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

2.38 p.m.

Mr Ong Teng Cheong (Kim Keat): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

`That the following Address in reply to the Speech of the President be agreed to:-

"We, the Parliament of the Republic of Singapore, express our thanks to the President for the Speech which he delivered on behalf of the Government at the opening of the Second Session of this Parliament.".'.

Sir, I am sure that hon. Members in this House wilt rise in support of my Motion thanking the President for his speech which reviews the state of the nation and outlines the major policies and measures to be implemented in the coming years.

I am also confident that I speak for all hon. Members that we welcome the proposed increased income tax relief for those with aged parents living with them, the measures to eliminate industrial friction and improve compensation rates for workers involved in industrial accidents. It is a relief to note that, despite the prevailing world-wide inflation coupled with economic recession, we have managed to achieve a real growth rate of about 7%. It is also reassuring to note from the President's speech the cautious optimism that "Singapore is likely to reverse the downtrend in her economy" with the prospect that we will probably do better by the later part of this year than now, provided there is no major unexpected catastrophe.

We owe our present well-being to our decisive will to succeed and hard work. It is with the able leadership, imaginative policies and tough measures that our Government has been able to- minimise our economic and social dislocations under the current recessive climate. Although economic growth by itself does not necessarily generate happiness all round, the absence of such growth will undoubtedly create much unhappiness. More hard work, unpopular policies and tough measures there shall be for the continued well-being of our society for generations to come. There is no question of any of this Government's policies and measures being swayed by short-term political considerations.

There are new challenges and problems ahead of us, as pointed out in the Addendum to the President's speech; and to quote the President, "there will be much to keep Honourable Members busy in 1975." One of the pressing problems generated by our rapid progress of urbanisation and industrialisation is that of urban transportation, in particular, peak hour travelling. The daily traffic congestion has caused much social frustration, unnecessary fuel expenditure and an adverse effect on business activities in the central business district due to a lower degree of mobility. There is no easy and simple solution to overcome the complex problem of urban transportation which has become a major concern of all metropolitan and public policy in this century. The Government will soon introduce harsh traffic management measures such as the park and ride, city shuttle bus and area licensing schemes to relieve traffic congestion. The comprehensive scheme with unpopular management measures, though not a new idea, is attracting much international attention because few governments in the so-called free-world have dared to venture into such unpopularity due to short-term political considerations. Our bus service is improving, but the standard is still far from satisfactory. The introduction of the park and ride scheme will no doubt relieve the traffic congestion in the central business district. However, careful regulation or adjustment may be necessary to maintain a balanced set of management measures to ensure, among other things, that the scheme would not unnecessarily attract the normal public transport riders to opt for the park and ride alternative, in which case, a shift of traffic congestion from the central business district to the outer urban areas may result.

Another growing concern is the increasing crime rate and the insufficiently staffed police force as expressed by the President. Although the introduction of full-time national servicemen for the police force will lessen the problem of manpower shortage, the effectiveness of our police force will depend more on the quality and maturity of the personnel than sheer numbers. It is imperative to stress the need to carefully train our selected young national servicemen for police duty. In the course of their active duty, their contact with the public is unavoidable, and their ability and tact in handling human situations will determine the goodwill or ill-will between the public and the police.

It is without doubt, to quote the Addendum to the President's Speech, that "The Police will require the support of the public to be fully effective." As it is, the degree of mutual trust and cooperation between the public and the police leaves much to be desired. No doubt severe punishment must be meted out to law offenders, but more severe punishment should be meted out to the law enforcement officers who flout the law if we are to make Singapore a safe and orderly place to live in. The current world economic situation has made it very clear that the economic well-being of any country depends more than ever before on the well-being of other countries. The reality of interdependence is obvious and immediate, and it is in this direction, as it should be, that the Addendum on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stressed the importance of cooperation with our South-East Asian countries to safeguard our common interests and the need to encourage increased trade with West Asia and Eastern Europe. But interdependence goes beyond economics to the question of food, population and jurisdiction over the seas, all of which requiring urgent attention but none of which could be solved by any nation acting alone.

The importance of international goodwill as an overture to greater cooperation and increased trade cannot be over-emphasised if we are to truly establish Singapore as a "Global City". Our traders and those who have active business dealings with our neighbouring countries should be made to realise this, and I would urge them wherever possible to avoid sacrificing our long-term international goodwill for any immediate trading gain. Our traders should be encouraged to conduct "fair trade" not only intra-nationally but also internationally if this tiny City-state of ours is to continue to thrive under the "Global City" concept.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move.

Question proposed.

2.48 p.m.

Mr Lai Tha Chai (Henderson): Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to support without any reservation the Presidential address delivered at the opening of the Second Session of the Third Parliament on 21st February, 1975.

In his address, the President pointed out:

`The primary duty of government is to establish a society in which everyone has an equal chance to live, learn, train, work and earn to the best of his or her ability.'

In my opinion, this is one of the most urgent tasks of nation-building.

The introduction of national service following our independence has success fully imbued in our youths with a sense of self-reliance and patriotism. Our participation in the five-nation defence pact and the ASEAN regional organisation has contributed towards a peaceful and stable South-East Asia. In the foreseeable future, I believe the ASEAN members would be able to continue sharing prosperity in a harmonius co existence.

However, we in Singapore have seen an increase in the crime rate. These unlawful activities are causing a problem to our effort in nation-building. It is like an ugly shadow cast over our society. Unless we reduce the crime rate to the minimum, we would not be able to escape from being labelled "a paradise for criminals", especially at a time when we arc making progress in economic and other fields. As a result of a rising incidence of robbery, rape and murder, kidnapping and drug-trafficking, the middle income and upper income groups are exposed to threats, and not only that but the safety of housewives in the lower income group is also threatened while they go to work or shopping.

Although there was the campaign last year to fight crime and delinquency organised by the department responsible for the maintenance of law and order, my personal feeling of the results is that more publicity had been given to the campaign than the actual achievement of its objective. As compared with the "Keep Singapore Clean and Green" campaign in 1969, this Crime Free campaign paid more attention to publicity and it has become a fashionable gimmick.

I appreciate the fact that acute shortage of police manpower has to a large extent contributed to these unlawful activities. It is therefore necessary to consider heavier penalties for the recalcitrant anti-social elements. I fully support the President's statement in this respect, and I sincerely hope that the officers responsible for law and order well understand the rationale behind the imposition of heavier penalties, and to exercise their authority to maintain law and order in our society.

It is my feeling that the existence of crime in our society has its root in the size of the family. Families with a large number of children generally have not been able to provide their children with the good things in life, despite the sweat and toil of parents throughout their unhappy lives. In such an environment where parents are away at work, children fail to learn their positive role in the society. And children are very susceptible to bad influences. In the company of anti-social elements they easily become delinquents. There is no doubt that there is a need to extend our sympathy to these unfortunate strays. They must be properly guided to a sense of responsibility that is expected of them in an orderly and healthy society. Sympathy and guidance notwithstanding, we must be firm and deal with them severely if they continue to defy the law and attempt to create disorder in our society.

Therefore, I am also in full agreement with the President's statement on the need to further lower our birth rate and to adhere to the two-child concept. We must completely eradicate the obsolete concept of the different values attached to male offsprings and female offsprings and to promote the concept that boy or girl, two is enough. What is important is to instill in parents the need to bring up quality children in a happier environment.

Apart from the need to revolutionize our concept of male offsprings and their values, there is also a point worthy of consideration. Perhaps to drive home the point that females do not lose out to males in an equal and just society, job preference may be given to female applicants from families without male siblings, provided such applicants possess equal qualification and ability as compared to the male applicants. In this way parents without male offspring might think again before enlarging their family only with the purpose of ensuring that there is someone to carry on their name.

In conclusion I strongly suggest that on the one hand, we should enlist the help of law to discourage the tendency to rely on luck and gamble; on the other hand, we must adopt enlightening incentives to upgrade human quality so that every citizen will lead a contributing, self-disciplined and meaningful life in a fair and stable society.

2.55 p.m.

Mr Ng Kah Ting (Punggol): Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to speak in full support on the Motion of Thanks to the President as moved by my colleague, the Member for Kim Keat. In moving the Motion, he mentioned that the President in his address at the opening of the Second Session of this Third Parliament on 21st February, 1975 stated in no uncertain terms that "there will be much to keep Honourable Members busy in 1975." In this respect, the President posed several problems to which Hon. Members "will have to tackle."

As many Backbenchers will be speaking on this Motion, I shall confine myself to those areas which I am more interested in. I am particularly exuberant with happiness over the fact that the President stated that:

`Government will take measures to make it more attractive for young couples to have their parents live with them. If nothing else, the grandparents help in bringing up the children whilst father and mother are at work.'

Mr Speaker, Sir, about five years ago, in fact, on 15th October, 1969 [Hansard, Vol. 29, col. 85], I made a plea to the then Minister for Finance who is now the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence to consider granting "income tax reliefs to taxpayers who are maintaining their aged parents." The Minister in reply to my question stated that:

'in Asian societies, the support of aged parents is an acknowledged responsibility of all decent citizens. Indeed, Confucius has elevated this into a basic ethical principle, and Chinese classical literature is replete with examples of outstanding acts of filial piety. In these circumstances it would be unworthy of us to introduce mercenary con siderations such as relief from income tax.'

Furthermore, Sir, the Minister continued:

`if this approach does not appeal to the hon. Member, may I add a less traditionalist argument? An International Monetary Fund mission has recently examined our tax system and has stated that our tax reliefs are overgenerous and could with advantage be reduced.'

With due respect to the Hon. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, I chose not to press on persistently as economics is his homeground. Moreover, he was in charge of our country's coffers then! But deep down in my heart, I had hoped that the day would come when this matter would again be raised. However, I tried to appeal to the Finance Minister again this time by the so-called "hook" method. On 26th March, 1971 [Vol. 30, col. 1360], I sought exemption for persons earning $6,000 per annum or less. Ironically, our present Deputy Speaker, who was then the Minister of State for Finance, stated that:

`the burden of income tax in Singapore is low because of the generous personal reliefs and the graduated rates of tax.'

He went on to say that:

Under the Income Tax Ordinance a taxpayer is allowed personal relief of $2,000 plus an earned income relief of 1/5th of his earned income up to a maximum of $1,000. A relief of $1,000 is given in respect of his wife, $750 in respect of his first child, $500 each for the second and third child . . etc.

However, on 26th February, 1973 [Vol. 32, col. 4761, the present Finance Minister declared that:

`many Members suggested that reliefs should be given for the maintenance of aged parents and handicapped children on the grounds that the Eastern concept of filial piety requires, among other things, that children should look after their parents in old age. I recognise that with greater urbanisation and more limited living space, the Asian family unit is threatened with disintegration and that aged parents may be left on their own when they most need care and attention.'

As a result, the Hon. Minister was:

`prepared to give some tax relief as an encouragement to taxpayers who look after their parents and grandparents when they are without work or income.'

However, Sir, he said:

`a taxpayer may claim a tax deduction from his income of $300 per dependent parent or grandparent. A taxpayer may claim up to a maximum of two dependent parents or grandparents who are over 55 years of age, are supported by the taxpayer and are staying in the same household.'

You can imagine, Sir, that I heaved a sigh of relief at this disclosure, even though the amount allowed was small but by no means significant. At least, my colleague, the Member for Bukit Ho Swee, pleaded with the Finance Minister to increase the tax relief to $750 when he pointed out on 8th March, 1973 [Vol. 32, col. 629], that "the tax relief for a first child is $750 a year." In the 1974 Budget Statement, the Minister for Finance said [Vol. 33, col. 72, 4th March, 1974]:

`Last year when I announced the relief to taxpayers for supporting parents or grandparents, many hon. Members felt that the tax deduction at $300 per dependant was inadequate. I have given this matter further consideration and I am happy to inform hon. Members that the relief will now be increased from $300 to $750 per dependant. There will be no change in the other conditions announced last year. The increase in the relief will also take effect from the year of assessment 1975, that is, based on 1974 income.'

It may well be, Sir, that I have elaborated long enough on this question of tax relief granted to taxpayers who have parents living with them. But I must hasten to add that I take no credit in convincing our Government to grant such reliefs. In fact, the Government should be congratulated for this magnanimous gesture which lays stress and encourages young couples to have their aged parents or grandparents to live with them. Basically, in the Asian society, its cultural heritage differs greatly from that of the West. In a small country like ours, it would be a great benefit if our young could be instilled in their tender years with such good human values like living harmoniously with their grandparents and parents. In this respect, I have visited old folks homes at home and abroad and have come to the conclusion that filial piety must be cherished by the working parents and passed down to their children's children if we are to build a closely knit and cohesive society.

As families become smaller within the next ten years or so largely due to a certain measure the successful implementation of family planning, and if the projection of population growth is accurate enough, we would still have large families occupying HDB flats in the various estates. In this respect, I wonder how many families would gather around for a reunion dinner once a year. This annual dinner has its own significance. The Government have a State Banquet each year, in which a select group will attend. At this function, the honourable Prime Minister and his Cabinet colleagues play host. it is refreshing for one to be invited on such an auspicious occasion in which the invitees not only meet but strengthen the relationship between them and also help to establish the esprit de corps.

Similarly, every year the 65 Constituency CCCs and MCs from the 174 community centres attend a rally and dinner to celebrate National Day. Here again, the relationship between grass-root leadership and government is further strengthened. This is another example of human value worth inculcating.

I would elaborate on this further when I come to the policy changes in our Education system.

May I now come to the question, Sir, of crime prevention. I would like to touch on the question of growing crime rates. I fully endorse the Government's will to mete out more severe punishment to criminals and drug traffickers. In fact, I would like to call on the Government to impose both the cane and longer periods of imprisonment to such people as they do not deserve any mercy. Therefore, the introduction of full-time National Service in the police force is most timely as there is a shortage of manpower. It is my hope that there shall be police stations with the necessary manpower and up-to-date facilities as well in all the HDB estates, though the Addendum on the Ministry of Home Affairs states that four new stations will be built in Toa Payoh, Paya Lebar, Orchard Road and Jurong Town. But whilst there are so many new HDB flats being built, I would suggest that plans should be in hand to construct more police stations in these new estates. We have often read in the newspapers cases of vandalism, molest, robbery and theft, committed in the HDB estates especially in the lifts. As the President said, "we must make Singapore a safe and orderly place to live in." Thus I do not see any valid reason why we cannot overcome this problem because, with the introduction of National Service in the Police Force coupled with the Community Security Force of the Vigilante Corps, more personnel could be deployed to many of the more populated HDB estates. This, I am positive, will help to reduce crime and deter these bad elements from committing such offences as they would realise that it is painful for them when caught and found guilty of committing such an offence.

Sir, the Addendum on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in line with our declared policy on foreign affairs. Since the setting up of ASEAN, member countries have come closer to each other on matters of regional and bilateral interest, and I can foresee that a stronger relationship will develop. In this respect, I welcome the formation of a permanent secretariat for ASEAN which will co-ordinate the many regional economic, social and cultural projects to be implemented.

Another issue vital to Singapore is sea communications. I have on several occasions drawn the attention of the House that I have received complaints from the trawlers based at Kangkar in my constituency with regard to the harassment and piracies encountered by the fishermen who risk their lives to fish in the waters in the South China Sea in the area near Horsburg Lighthouse as well as in Southeast Asian waters. Several trawlers and crew together with their catches have been captured and held to ransom by so-called pirates. The fishermen are very unhappy over this. In this respect, I would like to urge our Government to have high-level discussions with ASEAN countries with a view to coordinating their efforts in keeping the waters in Southeast Asia free of piracy so that our fishermen can earn their bread and butter without fear of being pirated. Combined efforts and more regular naval patrols will, I think, be a step forward in reducing the number of piracies, if not totally eradicate it.

I now refer to the Primary Production under the Ministry of National Development. It is heartening to note that we are self-sufficient in fresh pork, eggs and poultry meats in spite of occasional shortages and high prices of imported raw feed materials. But what is most unfortunate is the fact that "in conjunction with water resources development, pig farms will be relocated into non-catchment areas" in Punggol. As a result, more than a thousand acres of land in Punggol have been acquired for this particular purpose. I fully realise the scarcity of land in Singapore and more so the imperative need to preserve larger areas of land as catchment areas which are free of pollutants. In addition to this, the Defence Ministry also have similar needs for the training of national servicemen. Therefore, whatever vacant land, especially that which is marked for agricultural purpose, is acquired in this instance. Apart from this, lands are also acquired for other purposes.

Land availability has become a problem for our Government and I believe Singapore can ill-afford to have lands not fully utilised. Optimum utilisation of land available must continue to be so, as Singapore continues to develop. Therefore, it can be adduced that land in Singapore is worth an inch of gold for every inch of it! Within the acquired lands in Punggol are many farmers, namely, pig, poultry and agricultural farmers. Most of them are poultry farmers and they number several hundred families.

I am given to understand that only a few have been promised that they would not be required to leave whereas the majority of them have been served with notices to quit, and some have been promised that they would be getting a three-room Housing Board flat for free, including ex-gratia payments.

Here, I would like to make a strong plea to the Hon. Minister concerned as to whether his Ministry would consider the requests of the numerous farmers who have approached me for assistance. They maintain that they are bona-fide farmers and that pig and poultry farming is their only means of livelihood, and they request that they be allowed to remain where they are. Therefore, they state that they are prepared to increase the number of pigs or poultry in their farms to the minimum requirements of the Primary Production Department for the simple reason that they have been farming in the said area since they first came to Punggol. I can hear testimony to their claim as I was born and brought up in Punggol. I feel that consideration should be given to this request which I consider reasonable, provided that these farmers continue to maintain the required number of pigs or poultry. They have also pointed out to me that they would not be able to move into a three-room HDB flat given free to them as they would have no further means of income, and in that case how are they to survive. They also state that they are in the "evening years" of their lives and that their children would like to step into their shoes to continue farming as a means of livelihood. Another reason advanced by them is that there had been several outbreaks of swine fever and poultry diseases in the past few years which almost drained them of their financial resources; but thanks to the assistance of feed retailers and suppliers, who gave them credit terms, they were able to survive. This is part of the reason why some of the bona-fide farmers reduced their stock. People seem to think that pig and poultry farming is lucrative, but I do not think so.

The Minister for the Environment (Mr Lim Kim San): Why do they continue?

Mr Ng Kah Ting: I beg your pardon, Sir?

Mr Lim Kim San: If it is not lucrative, they will not continue farming.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Why should they not continue. That is why they have to reduce their stock to keep to the means that they can afford.

Mr Lim Kim San: If it is not lucrative they will not want to continue farming.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Then they will enlarge their farms.

Mr Lim Kim San: They cannot enlarge their farms if they keep on losing money.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: I did not say that they keep on losing money. There were occasions, however, when prices had gone up and gains reaped by them. Just like stocks and shares; they go up and come down. Who suffers? Sir, this issue has been raised in this House many times. In fact, my colleagues who are known as "rural" MPs are fully aware of the farmers' grouses like sharp rise in prices and low prices vice-versa of animal/poultry feeds as well as a glut in pork and eggs. This has been an annual feature of the debate in this House. That is the answer, Sir. In fact, another point my farmers raised is that all they require is a small plot of land, say one-half to one acre of land to enable them to survive. Resettling the families does not pose such a serious problem as having to resettle a farmer into HDB estates. These people lose out because they have to sell whatever they have, for example, pigs and poultry, the price of which would be too low to salvage, and also not taking into account the fixtures and structures put up at high cost. A major part of their lives has been spent in making them what they are today. Therefore, they maintain that the amount of money by way of compensation or ex-gratia payments given to them would not help them in any way, nor change their way of life. As a result; to move into a HDB flat, according to them, is like starting life all over again.

I concede that in order to have potable water from the Kranji and Peirce reservoirs, no pollution can be allowed in such areas, and for this reason pig farmers, especially in these areas, must be relocated elsewhere. That being the case, I am mindful of the advice the President made when he stated:

`I am confident that in your deliberations, you will not be swayed by short-term political considerations, and that, instead, you wilt be guided by the long-term interests of all our people.'

Hence, would not the Hon. Minister consider that the other aspect of having substantial parcels of lands in Punggol leased out to people or enterprises on a commercial basis with the necessary expertise and finance would result in giving them the monopoly over such industry and consequently create more attendant problems for ourselves. I would say that the smaller farms which are prepared to meet the minimum requirements laid down by the Primary Production Department be allowed to occupy a smaller plot of land on Temporary Occupation Licence basis alongside the capital and labour intensive commercial farms and until such time when they lose out to the commercial farms. I would like to suggest to the Hon. Minister to give this problem due consideration.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I now refer to the Education system. I note with optimism that the Education system will be restructured by stages with the objective of reducing educational wastage, improving teaching and learning, and increasing the supply of trained teachers and manpower. Moreover, several measures will be implemented.

But what worries me is the question of supply and demand subsequent to this change. In this respect, I would not hesitate to call upon the Government to set up a high-powered Committee preferably headed by a Minister to cause a Manpower Distribution Research Unit established with a view to studying in greater depth the various needs of manpower in the next five or ten years or more. As I see it, the new Education system envisaged is more technically oriented to meet our future industrial growth.

Also, I would like to pay tribute to the Minister for Education in setting aside a period known as "Education for Living." I view this with every seriousness as I notice that many youths are either idle or they do not want to work because they come from well-to-do families as well as from the upper middle income group. Here parents should check them and encourage them to look for work rather than to allow them to while away their precious time whilst they are in the prime of their lives and to spend such time in the coffee lounges, bars or night-clubs. Parents should not pamper their children by giving them too much pocket allowance. At the same time, parents should find some time to spend with their children. Therefore, Education for Living should provide a basic foundation in helping to mould the character of our students with a sense of moral values and self-discipline so that, when they leave school they will be of benefit to the society. This is the motto which they should bear in mind at all times - "I serve my country and in return I enjoy the fruits of my labour."

Finally, I would like to add that the Addendum to the Presidential Address, covering all the Ministries, clearly indicates the ambition of our Government's long-term planning and projections which, when ultimately completed, will make Singapore a beacon of the East in which her people live in peace and harmony with her neighbouring countries

3.30 p.m.

Encik Abdul Aziz Karim (Kallang): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to thank the President for the concise manner he directed our attention to our present problems and also the measures the Government proposes to take in order to overcome them. The President did not sound despondent nor was he in a state of euphoria when he assured us that we would fare better towards the later part of 1975. What probably had made things look worse than they really were was because we had allowed ourselves to live with the idea that doomsday was around the corner, so much so, that unscrupulous businessmen manipulated stocks and prices, and indulged in profiteering. The President's speech, although low-keyed, is a refreshing change from what we were used to hear in the recent past.

Inflation causes concern to each and everyone. We have learned to live with it by prudent spending and reducing wastage. However, I believe we should give priority in tackling economic recession and the loss of job opportunities. Whatever available resources there are should be utilised to develop our physical assets and infrastructure. The world is ever more confident that economic recovery will take place before 1976. It is imperative we make use of whatever spare resources we have now to build up our physical assets and to equip our manpower to spring back to activity at a higher technological level. There is all the justification now to draw upon our foreign exchange reserves for these purposes.

Mr Speaker, Sir, no less important to Singapore is the question of controlling the growth of population. Industrialisation had its origin because entrepot trade could not give job opportunities to the growing numbers entering the employment market. Rapid urbanisation and living in high-rise flats also became very necessary because of limited land resources. Our population density is 3,664 persons per square kilometre, about the highest in the world. There are 529,200 women in the fertile age group 15 to 44, and if every one of them is to have only two children, our population will be four million in 50 years' time. There is no doubt that we have to achieve zero population growth as early as possible. Land for housing, recreation, reservoirs and other uses are not abundant and limitless, it is already generally agreed, even by those who have more than two children, that Singapore is getting over-crowded. Therefore, over-sized families should be discouraged by suitable disincentives and penalties. Industrialisation based on the concept of availability of a large reservoir of low-skilled labour should have its cut-off point.

It is proposed to extend pioneer industry tax exemption from five to ten years for the most deserving industries. It is appropriate, therefore, to grant this tax exemption on a selective basis to industries with the possibility of proceeding to a higher technological phase in production. The intention of the Government to offer attractive terms for new types of industries, such as machine tools, precision instruments and petro-chemicals, is well thought and timely. This has to be done if for no other reason than the hope for a better standard of living through higher productivity.

It is abundantly clear that higher wages and standard of living are not possible without higher productivity at all levels. However, all too often when the question of productivity is examined, low productivity is always blamed on labour. There are also managements who are inept and inefficient, the Singapore Bus Service is one of the many. The matter of productivity is within the province of management. I could not do better than to quote what the Minister for Finance said in an article in an NTUC publication commemorating the 50th birthday of our Honourable Prime Minister:

`Fairly productive labour with bad management, antiquated machinery or the wrong choice of goods to produce will lead to low labour productivity. An increase in labour productivity can result not only from better training, more responsibility and better health of workmen, but also from an improvement in management, modern machinery or a different production and marketing programme. Therefore, the major aspects of labour productivity are in the hands of entrepreneurs.'

The Ministry of Labour has yet to fully convince employers on the question. The National Productivity Board is to convene a conference to consider the question of productivity and wages. This is a good move to look forward to. However, the attitude of the National Productivity Board as stated in the Addendum to the Presidential Address that the "National Productivity Board will assist those who are prepared to set up productivity committees" amply describes the feeble attempts of the National Productivity Board in this direction.

The Government's education policy promises among other things:

(a) `Every pupil who completes primary education will proceed to post-primary education and training of a type best suited to his aptitude and ability.'

(b) `The secondary curriculum will be diversified to include a variety of vocational training and apprenticeship schemes.'

The main object of primary and secondary education, as I see it, is to give practical training for suitable employment in the future for both primary and secondary school-leavers. The education that primary and secondary pupils receive, however, should not make them robots merely suited to carry out work in a narrow field.

In the event a worker becomes technologically redundant, the Industrial Training Board should organise the retraining programme at the employer's expense if it is not possible for the employer to retrain the worker on the job.

In regard to the training of our young men for defence of our Republic, the beneficial aspect which is recognised by both parents and employers is character-building.

The proposal to post National Servicemen to do work related to their future employment after leaving the Army will be welcomed by those concerned. It may be worthwhile to consider allowing these National Servicemen in appropriate engineering vocations to be given the task of designing and carrying out civil engineering works like bridges, wharves and piers. Of course, this should be done on a limited scale. After all a soldier must train and carry out military duties first.

The proposal to introduce full-time National Service for the Police Force would suit some young men, who would, if it were not for this scheme, be drafted into the armed forces much against their liking. The need for this new approach is apparently due to manpower shortage in the Police Force. I think it is imperative to enquire why the Police Force is not attracting suitable young men. Why is it that, of the hundreds of school police cadets, so few have chosen a career in the Force? Drafting young men into the Police Force is not the most logical solution to solving the police manpower problem. I have my doubts that the reserve police service will enlarge the law enforcing capacity. I should like to be enlightened at an appropriate time if these Police national servicemen will strictly do patrol work, traffic control work, some boring static work or some work which would not be of practical use in their future employment.

One significant admission in the Presidential Address is the need to keep the family all under one roof, and if I may quote from the text of the speech:

`My Government will take measures to make it more attractive for young couples, to have their parents live with them. If nothing else, the grandparents help in bringing up the children whilst father and mother are at work.'

This is a good idea and in keeping with the real Asian tradition. Urbanisation and the construction of small flats have been one of the main causes of the proliferation of the extended family. Nothing can substitute the care and attention of parents. The next best are the grandparents. From the social point of view the encouragement of interdependence of the various generations is good.

The Government has not revealed what incentives would be offered to those whose parents live with them. I would suggest for consideration the following:

(1) A higher taxation allowance than what is allowed now be given to those who truly and adequately maintain their parents.

(2) Priority in the allocation of bigger Housing and Development Board flats on condition that nobody in the family should request for an additional flat within a fixed period of time.

One of the several problems modern Singapore faces is urban transportation. The problem of controlling the volume of traffic entering the centre of administration and business area would have to be controlled sooner or later.

Public transport, in particular the bus system, is still inefficient in terms of routes, frequency, reliability and service. As and when the bus system improves, more and more measures could be introduced to encourage people to use public transport. The present services provided by the Singapore Bus Service is far from being able to take any further demand on them. The addition of the shuttle service from the fringes of the Central Business District into the central administration and business area will be far from solving mass transportation. For the time being, the use of private cars for travelling will have to be maintained, though on a lower scale. Congestion in the CBD does not appear till after 8 o'clock in the morning. In view of this, it may not be necessary to introduce the licensing scheme till 8 o'clock. The suggestion is 7.30 a.m. This should allow parents, who are presently sending their children to school, to avoid having to bear an additional expenditure during these hard times.

The bus service is far from adequate to meet the needs of the ordinary people. There has been only a slight improvement, however. The improvement is not significant enough for any party involved in running the system to be given outright compliment. The conduct of drivers and conductors no doubt has shown marked improvement.

The secondment of more than 100 Government and Singapore Armed Forces personnel since August last year is unprecedented though most necessary. Never has so many Government servants been seconded to serve a private company. It does prove my point that there are people with the right calibre in the public service who could manage the public transportation system. I say without reservation that it is not in the public interest for the bus service to be in the hands of private entrepreneurs. The bus service must be operated as a public service.

It is proposed by the Government that the Singapore Bus Service be converted into a public limited company with Government having a shareholding when it is firmly established.

I would be happy if the House could he informed what percentage of the shares will be held by the Government. Will the new SBS be run to make the highest possible profit? What is the maximum dividend to be paid to the shareholders?

I had proposed in the last session of this Parliament that there should be established a statutory corporation to run the bus service on a co-operative basis with the Government and other suitable parties as shareholders. Since it is operated on a co-operative principle, profit-taking could be limited.

I should be happy if the new SBS is run with the objective to serve the public interest and that the highest possible re-investment is made to give the best service to the bus-travelling public.

I agree in principle that the Government should discourage the use of private cars for ordinary travel. The need for any family to have more than one car is questioned. In the same vein, the practice of tendering for car registration numbers of a low order by people in high society should not be encouraged any more by the Registry of Vehicles. Social snobbery amongst car owners is not in keeping with the art of graceful living. If it can be described at all, it is conspicuous consumption and obscene-living in style. Why accentuate social tension?

Mr Speaker, Sir, there are examples of harmful styles for our young generation to imitate. This is the society we create. How much can we blame the present generation. First, we must demotivate ourselves. Mr Speaker, Sir, in conjunction with this view, I could do no better than to quote the Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress, Mr Devan Nair:

`Those who live and lead in the opening years of the 21st century are already in our charge today, in our schools, our classrooms, and our playing fields. If we truly love them, and desire a better world for them, we must motivate them for a new and better world. Which means that we must de-motivate them from the aberrations and the insensate hostilities and the antagonisms of our times.'

"How do we do this?" he asked. "We would, in brief, have to de-motivate ourselves, before we can re-motivate our children for the future".

In conclusion, Sir, I support the Motion of the Member for Kim Keat.

3.50 p.m.

Mr Hwang Soo Jin (Jalan Kayu): (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, the President's speech clearly reflects that after 16 years of administration our leadership is still preserving its usual practice of down-to-earth pragmatism. They have not for the sake of short term political objectives neglected the long term interests of the people. The policy for the coming year not only thinks in terms of the younger generation but also cares for the welfare of the aged so as to ensure that their livelihood in their remaining years may be properly protected.

The President says that 1975 will be a busy year for the Members of Parliament. From the point of civil service, we can say that 1975 will also be a year in which their duties will be heavier, because all the important measures and policies after the deliberation and passage of Parliament will have to be implemented by them.

Since our independence, it is only a matter of 10-odd years. To a country, a decade may not be too long a time. However, we have been able to make marked progress and achievements in the fields of socio-economy, education, construction and others which are not only publicly acknowledged by all the people of our country but have also brought to us international renown. The main reason for this is that, while in our effort for progress and survival, we have also at the same time developed and built up a sound and efficient administrative system with all the main departments and statutory boards on the whole able to match the determination and policies of the leadership, actively promoting and realising our plan for nation building.

At the juncture of transition from old to new and in our efforts for progress, particularly in recent years, some traditional service departments in order to meet changing objective environment and needs have often been reorganised or changed, some departments have even been changed to statutory boards. On the other hand, we have also set up a number of non-traditional independent organisations. What is most obvious is that in the course of promoting economic development, the Government has under the Companies Act set up some commercial organisations in order to promote some non-traditional commercial and industrial activities. In principle, these organisational changes are actually necessary. However, in the course of changes there have arisen some organisational aberrations and signs of ill-feeling on the part of the people. Under the present public service and economic development system, there seem to be the following shortcomings:

(1) Each one in his own, or minding one's own business.

On the one hand, statutory boards and national enterprises registered under the Companies Act have increased in number greatly. Each statutory board has its legally defined position and power and every Government commercial or industrial organisation registered under the Companies Act also has its special objectives and scope of activities. On the other hand, various traditional Government departments also have their separate rights and functions. These changes to a certain degree might have brought about symptoms of dismemberment and complication to our administrative entity. This is because when promoting their separate policies these separate units seem to lack the basic consciousness for mutual arrangement and mutual coordination and cooperation. Had there been any cooperation and coordination, it was mainly accidental and not due to any unity or planning in nature. Therefore, amidst this trend of each looking after himself alone, there are bound to take place manifestations of mutual contradiction, dislocation, wastage and delay very often leaving with the populace the feeling that the left hand knows not what the right hand is doing. Some obvious and frequent examples include tackling the question of reducing traffic congestion in the inner city; in view of a lack of coordination of the departments concerned in respect of the personnel and the techniques involved a much confused situation has resulted.

(2) Wastage of personnel and resources.

Under separate administration, every organisation tries its best to realise its objectives, on its own viewpoint. This might cause contradiction and friction among the departments and organisations concerned unwittingly and would inevitably lead to duplication and unnecessary loss and wastage.

For instance, in the usage of computers, there are up to now at least four or five units making use of this facility. In view of the expensiveness of this sort of equipment, and in addition, shortage of personnel to man it, if a scheme for centralised usage is adopted by jointly setting up a computer service centre, I believe that expenses will be reduced not only in the initial period but also in the long run. And because of the pooling of personnel and resources and collective planning resulting in the benefit of considered opinion there will be more effective raising of our standard of service.

Another example is the question of land. According to present experience, there seems to be some quarrel among some departments or organisations concerned about the usage of land. Under the present system, although we have in existence the Land Office, however this department is not the only authority that exercises the control of state land and the power of land acquisition. There are some other establishments such as the Jurong Town Corporation, the Port of Singapore Authority, Housing and Development Board and Urban Renewal Authority Board which possess equal or even greater statutory power in this respect. This might cause friction among the various departments and would expose the inherent contradiction of the Government in dealing with land policies. In this respect, we must strive for the realisation of comprehensive planning and control in order to ensure that the limited land may be distributed and utilised rationally and effectively in the most economical and sound way.

(3) Excessive commercialisation.

In the course of promoting our national economy, for various reasons the traditional service departments and non. traditional organisations have all tended towards the target of financial self-management and sufficiency and the accumulation of profits, thus neglecting the main task of service to the people. If we turn `the pages of some official annual financial reports, it may not be difficult to discover in them the jubilant mood in between the lines in addition to the reports on increasing rates of expenditure and profits. With a purely commercial organisation, this might not incur any quarrel. However, with a governmental organisation whose main task is to serve the people, this kind of philosophical concept needs to be reviewed and criticised, Excessive commercialisation might bring about unnecessary competition and friction among various organisations concerned and increase the burden of the people. There is another indication that some Government departments for the sake of ensuring their respective interests have even come to levy charges on other departments. In the end it is only the taxpayers and the broad masses that suffer.

At present, many Government organisations possess the power and freedom to adjust their charges, although in the past few years the Budget Statements presented by the Finance Minister to Parliament had invariably been called painless ones. But, in fact, in the course of every financial year, the charges for many items of public services had been raised directly or indirectly, causing the burden of livelihood of the people to be heavier and heavier year by year. Most departments claim increased costs as the chief reason.

While our Government is calling upon all the people to tighten their belts and to concertedly overcome the threats of inflation and economic depression, this solitary reason may not easily be under. stood or accepted by the people. Under reasonable circumstances and conditions, we do not possibly as a whole deny the elements of commerce in some state organisations, but this should stop appropriately where it should, so as not to spoil the good relationship between the Government and the people.

(4) The growing practice of bureau-cratism.

In recent years, various departments and organisations in our country, in trying to meet the rapid social and economic developments and needs, have met with the problem of shortage of personnel. In addition, because of the buoyancy of the commercial and industrial enterprises in the private sector, capable personnel have been recruited on high salaries, thus making the problem more acute and causing a high degree of mobility of various categories of employees in government organisations. This has resulted in the various units not being able to reach a standard of stability and desired situation in respect of supervision and training of personnel. Under these circumstances, the standard of service by our country would naturally go down,

The policies fixed by the various departments are meant for actual execution. However, during their implementation, because many civil servants have not received adequate training and also lack a proper understanding of the right spirit of service, in the end they have often made the people disappointed as well as dissatisfied. In order to implement speedily some important measures, some departments have authorised their executors the power of ticketing on the spot. If these executors are well trained and imbued with sympathy, then they will be able to exercise their authority in a fair manner in the proper circumstances and conditions. However, unfortunately, many executors often abuse their power. They often threaten to ticket a person on the slightest pretext. There is absolutely no reasoning or flexibility to talk about. In dealing with the people, some civil servants also often show their impatience, especially in dealing with those fellow compatriots of lower educational level their manners are even more rude. In dealing with matters, they totally disregard the difficulty and inconvenience of the "small" citizens. Even for ordinary matters, they would cause the people to turn up at the department concerned several times to wait for enquiry, wasting much valuable time of the people.

Besides, if faced with somewhat complicated matters, some executors usually evade their duties and resort to their usual tactic of playing Tai-chi boxing, shifting the problem to some other department or saying that they are going to see a certain MP. Even on an obviously simple matter of principle, they will likewise push the responsibility to a third person.

Mr Speaker, Sir, all these incidents that I have pointed out are actual facts. I believe many fellow Backbenchers feel the same as I do.

This is bureaucratism on the growth. If we do not destroy it in time, if we do not rectify this undesirable manifestation quickly, then we will face the increasing ill-feeling of the people, and consequently the political confidence that the people have in the Party in power over the past decade will certainly suffer unnecessary damage. During last year's debate on the Budget, many Backbenchers made some criticisms on the organisational structure and spirit of service of the Central Complaints Bureau. I hope the Government will take positive action to deal with this matter to enable this organisation to shoulder the duty of supervision more effectively.

Under the shadow of world economic depression, future conditions will be more complicated and more unpredictable than in the past. Therefore, the Party in office should review and reassess its dealings in internal and external affairs. The future administrative slogan should be anti-wastage and improving efficiency. Therefore, we must take practical steps to strengthen and promote the coordination among various departments and organisations so that the whole Government service system may continue in a more rational way. On the other hand, we should all firmly bear in mind that the stability of a country depends on the close tripartite coordination of the political leadership, the Government administrative organisation and all the people. If one of the three is missing, then the development of the whole will be seriously hampered. Therefore, we must oppose bureaucratism and avoid unnecessary political ill-feeling. We should strengthen the education of the civil service, irrespective of whether one is of a higher rank or lower rank. We must establish in the civil servants a healthy spirit and attitude for service.

Sir, I support the Motion.

4.05 p.m.

Mr J. F. Conceicao (Katong): Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to endorse most firmly the Motion of Thanks moved by the Member for Kim Keat. The speech which the President delivered on behalf of the Government represents a succinct statement of policy, elaborated in the various addenda pertaining to the different Ministries. The contents of this combined statement have a comprehensive reference. Many issues have been touched upon and problems and tasks outlined. As the President's Address will have it, with perhaps characteristic understatement, "there will be much to keep Honourable Members busy in 1975."

Shakespeare spoke of the famous Egyptian queen, Cleopatra, as one whom age could not wither nor custom stale her infinite variety. When one views the variety of problems the Government-party in power has been confronted with since 1959; when one considers the multitude of issues the present Government has been involved with since it assumed office; when one remembers the freshness and even audacity and determination, with which it has set about its tasks, then it is not a romantic embellishment, or any kind of verbal liberty, to say that custom cannot stale the infinite variety of the responses which our Government contrives to meet all sorts of situations it has to face. Indeed the changes we have brought about can only be described as revolutionary.

Yet so many people take for granted, or have become over-accustomed to, the performance of the Government amidst its concern for the development of our people. This concern has not been characterised by sentiment or undue emotion or incorporated in extravagantly phrased political manifesto; this concern has been rational, cool, expressing interest in long term consequences and lasting benefits. It is in this way that the revolution the party-in-power initiated 20 years ago has been continued and maintained, and this Government must continue to monitor the change and progress of our society towards a more and more stable and happy polity.

However, I suggest that the Government has presently to be specially watchful and jealous in safeguarding the standards of service and achievement that have always characterised its actions, actions which have been supported by a people described in the President's Address as "responsive to collective needs".

Within our community, general standards have recently faced the danger of some erosion - a danger of which the Government is only too well aware. The Prime Minister has himself recently remarked, for example, on the poor quality of finish in the building industry. No doubt where this particular detail is concerned, a suitable response will be contrived. For we note in the Addendum pertaining to the Ministry of National Development that programmes to train and upgrade skills in the building industry are being planned.

This aspect is, however, only a symptom of a more general potential malaise - namely, the danger of people succumbing to the temptation of accepting lower standards as being the easy way out, within the circumstances of relatively hectic development. Because of rapid development, and a comparatively good development achievement (despite adverse world economic conditions) the temptation has been strong to being easily satisfied with chin-chye work, so long as it is speedily done. The temptation to give in to an insidious complacence and inclination towards making short work of things have not been easy to resist.

And certainly we must resist the tendency to tolerate lower standards. For example, those in charge of making or servicing our roads should not be satisfied with the present standards considering how easily wear and tear affects road surfaces and how poorly the patching is done. For example, again, consider how so many people get away with petty to serious infringement of the law, as in the case of large numbers of overspeeding vehicles or smoky vehicles. Again, there is the continuing possibility of improvement that still remains in respect of service at various counters in government offices or institutions that deal with the public.

Mr Speaker, Sir, this is not the most suitable juncture to catalogue further illustrations of the dangers of lowering standards that confront us in many aspects of our living, and even of our learning and working and training and earning and perhaps buying and selling, and so forth. In fact, the opportunity for such detailed comment will be given to Backbenchers very shortly when Parliament goes into Committee of Supply. But the point has to be made about the possible threat to the realisation of an ideal we have talked about regarding a higher quality of life for our citizens.

It would not be inappropriate to mention here that quality is not equated merely with material betterment. However, we should remember too that, according to the most respectable social psychologists, people will not want to strive for the fulfilment of their higher needs until their most basic needs like survival and freedom from want have been adequately assured. This freedom we have succeeded in giving the vast majority of our people ample assurance of. However, we must also remember that among us there are still many such as those who live in their one-room flats and earn just a little more than enough perhaps to keep them free from the fear of physical deprivation and free from fear about the predictability of their incomes. We must continue to do all to ensure that the general level of living for these people is raised to a level where they will more and more have time and the motivation to think of a sense of belongingness, to think of wanting to relate to their neighbours and to their environment.

There is no doubt therefore that the first business of government is to continue to attend to what it has always considered to be its basic task - namely, to increase the size of the economic cake in such a manner as to ensure (besides other things) a bigger income (in real terms) for those in the lower income groups. And to supplement this with housing, hospital, recreational and various services. Attention to other needs on a more sophisticated level of want follows only when the basic task has been done.

In the light of this order of quality of life, the achievement of government has been respectable. In a consideration of income by house-hold heads for 1966 we find 66.7% earned below $250 per month. For 1972, an ECAFE survey noted that 32% earned below $250. The percentage of those earning more than $250 rose from roughly just over 30% in 1966 to just under 70% in 1972.

If we try to identify our population by social class groupings an ECAFE survey tells us that just under 70% of those surveyed in 1972 considered themselves middle and upper class by self-identification. If one reckoned by more objective criteria of income, education, occupation and housing conditions, distribution by socio-economic status would be: about 58% middle and upper class, 42% lower class. This does not represent a picture of economic degradation and oppression that some commentators have tried to convey.

What it does represent is a challenge to improve the conditions of our people further, and to add wherever we can a component that is related to the growth of graciousness in our community, graciousness as may be principally discerned in a concern for the human and physical environment, and for spiritual and cultural values.

This graciousness has nothing to do with being able to spend money on spacious accommodation, posh appurtenances, and evidence of luxury. It has everything to do with regard and respect for right conduct which all can afford. There is fair evidence of the lack of this regard and respect in many, especially of our young people.

Indeed, the President's Address laments the fact that a generation is growing up that wants the good things in life, but without working to pay for them. This attitude is, of course, reprehensible. But to what extent are the elders of our society also responsible for contributing to the delinquency of our young people. Have we not held up money, frequently enough, as a shining criterion of success, even with the consequence of one of our Ministers contributing for almost international circulation the coinage "moneytheism".

A torn bank note features in a TV slot advertising the advantages of family planning. In advertising the sale of our official lottery, desire for property is the key incentive offered. Even when the races are over at Bukit Timah, the traffic policemen will show more consideration to those leaving the racecourse than to the hundreds of motorists who will be held up in a long jam on Dunearn Road for the convenience of those who are dejectedly returning from their orgy of gambling.

Our cinemas and TV shows frequently give oblique recommendations to violence for the sake of covetousness. Meanwhile our interest in finer things is expressed by our giving relatively almost nothing to the National Museum, which we claim will serve as "an educational centre devoted to the art, history and anthropology of the peoples of this region." Presumably all this will come about merely by our uncharacteristic subscription to the idea that the best things in life are free.

It is therefore all the more refreshing to notice a recommendation to filial virtue in the reference in the President's Address to intended measures "to make it more attractive for young couples to have their parents live with them". The relevant paragraph even ends by conjuring the domestic portrait of grandma and grandpa helping in bringing up children whilst father and mother are at work. Oh, Mr Speaker, Sir, would that such human touches obtrude more often in our otherwise dispassionate official statements.

While concern for the problems of the old represents the most warmly human touch in the President's Address, other concerns related to the welfare of the people are expressed, among which must feature of course the problem, as the Member for Kallang has pointed out, of public transport.

It must be said that the public transport system seems now to be sailing on less rough waters. At one time it looked like it was going to be torpedoed. But rescue operations have been ably carried out. However, the bus service still may be likened to a vessel that has been buffeted somewhat by the storm. We hope that it will emerge from port in a few years' time - clean, trim and serving effectively. Indeed, this has to be so if we are successfully to wean away people from excessive dependence on private vehicles. In 10 years' time, people should indeed be seen to prefer to take public transport. They should indeed deem going by bus convenient, pleasant and a journey which affords a commuter time to look more often at the environs of a more attractive Singapore. We should succeed in bringing this about by the mid 80s - otherwise our mass rapid transit system will not get off the ground. Worse still, we will not have succeeded in growing out of being a community of selfish individualistic car drivers who insist on their private convenience at the risk of choking the city with traffic jams and choking people with pollution.

The key to this particular aspect of our experience is the note in the President's speech that we have a Government that is prepared to take action before things get out of hand. The action that Government takes has always to be within the circumstances of people understanding Government policy. The important factor in the facility with which Government communicates with the people is education,

If we think of education as meaning only formal schooling, then quite large numbers of our people would have been left out. Although our literacy rate is an average of about 70%, this is composed out of about 80% for males and 60% for females. About 40% of our women and 20% of our men would lack the literacy qualification to understand our message if we gave it through the written word. This written word would only reach the younger elements of our population, many of whom are still in school.

When we talk of education, we must therefore mean also the kind of non-formal means that would include our mass campaigns and the informal messages that go out through TV, Radio, the community centres and the citizens committees. This sort of education is for the civic side of the development of our people. For the vocational side, or for the occupational or even professional side of our people's development, let us examine the statement that says, "The primary duty of government is to establish a society in which everyone has an equal chance to live, learn, train, work and earn to the best of his or her ability."

Opportunities are many for our citizens to learn to live their lives to the full, and to develop their work capacity to their best advantage. However, the motivation for learning, as I have witnessed it, Mr Speaker, Sir, is almost wholly for hoped-for material gain. Mixed with other motivating drives, like the urge for cultural development or for the acquisition of a gracious outlook, the expectation of some more material benefit is not at all reprehensible. :But if this expectation is about all there is in the urge to acquire knowledge, then we will constantly go back to square one of moneytheism.

One retarding factor in the way our people regard education mainly for the material returns to education, one socially retarding factor is the almost idolatrous attitude towards paper qualifications. A certificate is looked upon as a written guarantee to better economic returns. Not a few who have joined the civil service have sadly equated their university qualification with administrative talent.

This certificate syndrome represents a gross superstition which we should do all we can to dispel. While qualifications are not unimportant, an appointee vindicates the choice of him by his employer through work, dedication and proven ability. It is how a person makes use of his education that is important to society. Education is not terminal. The end of one phase is the beginning of another, and this goes on throughout life.

Because of the formal structure of our education system - necessarily so- the idea that education is terminal and even final takes root too easily. Throughout all the streaming and phasing and labyrinthine ways of our education system one point should constantly be stressed - and that is that schooling ends, but education goes on. There is a Chinese proverb that goes roughly like this: "Ten years to grow a tree; a hundred years to grow a man". [Shih nien hsu mu, pai nien hsu jen.] it is good that we constantly bear this wisdom in mind.

I beg to support the Motion of Thanks moved by the Member for Kim Keat.

4.24 p.m.

Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon (Tiong Bahru) (in Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, allow me to rise in support of the Motion moved by the Member for Kim Keat to thank the President for his speech. Since independence we have been actively engaged in industrialisation in order to meet the economic problems of our country. Today the whole world has been affected by the economic recession and naturally we have also suffered the effects of this recession. But we are fortunate in that we have managed to achieve a 7% growth rate in our economy last year. This is the result of the enlightened leadership of our Government and the hard work of our people. Had it not been for the foresight and drive of our Government, the situation today would have been a very difficult one indeed. A new era and a new situation require new policies to meet new problems. In order to promote the economic development of our country so that we can meet the recession, we have to extend the period for tax exemption relief from five to ten years. This is indeed correct. It is only by doing this that we can promote the most deserving types of new industries. But in taking this measure we should not overlook the existing small-scale and medium-scale industries which are also full of potential. We should do our best to help these industries to develop so that we will be able to achieve economic recovery.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the present Employment Act stipulates that youths of 14 to 16 years must obtain the permission of the Commissioner for Labour before they can be employed in a factory. This is to ensure that their safety and health are protected. But facts tell us that a social problem has been created. Those who have stopped schooling and with nothing to do tend to waste their time on the streets. Very often they mix with the wrong company and commit crimes; and this is how juvenile delinquency comes about. Therefore, the Ministry of Labour intends to amend the legislation in this respect. This is the correct thing to do. I believe this will help to reduce the rate of juvenile delinquency and also increase the supply of our labour.

Mr Speaker, Sir, about 45% of our people are now living in Housing Board flats and the demand for these flats is increasing all the time. However, there are many people living in these flats who do not know one another. This is especially so in the case of young working couples. The Government is trying to encourage young couples to live with their parents. This will not only solve the problem of the old people but it will also provide the opportunity for working parents to get somebody to look after their children. This will also help the people to cultivate the virtue of filial piety and encourage the development of traditionally good family concepts. This will help to reduce crimes in our Housing Board estates.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the task of the Police Force is to ensure the safety of our people and to act against crime. This task is sacred as it protects the lives and property of our people. But all along the Police Force has been undermanned. Its task is indeed very difficult because with increasing urbanisation the crime rate rises. In the recent past, without the help of the CSF National Servicemen the situation would have been much worse. Therefore, the policy to take full-time National Servicemen into the Police Force is a wise one. Undoubtedly this will increase the strength of the Police Force in combating crimes which are on the increase.

Sir, on behalf of my constituents, I would like to thank the staff of the Queenstown Police Station for their good work in preserving law and order in my constituency and for speedily solving a number of crime cases in the area. They have also acted in time to smash a newly formed secret society in my constituency.

Sir, I support the Motion.

4.31 p.m.

Dr Chiang Hai Ding (Ulu Pandan): Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise to support the Motion standing in the name of the Member for Kim Kent.

In his speech last Friday evening, the President emphasised the great effect of external events on Singapore when he said:

`Provided there is no war and another oil embargo or other major catastrophe, Singaporeans will adjust to slower growth rates.'

External events led to the establishment and the development of Singapore. It is not my intention today to provide hon. Members with a tourist-guide history of Singapore. The proximity of the Raffles Professor of History, the Member for Alexandra, on my left, is a deterrent for which hon. Members will no doubt be grateful.

However, it cannot be doubted that conditions in the 19th century in China, India and elsewhere in South-east Asia persuaded our forefathers that Singapore offered greater opportunities for a better life for themselves and their families. They, and those who came after them, created what we have in Singapore today.

Our Republic can take just pride in our achievements when we compare ourselves with other countries possessing vaster land areas, larger populations and an abundance of natural resources.

The world today, especially in the last 18 months, has become an even more interdependent one. There is no escape from the effects of inflation and recession, of mounting unemployment and in many cases of terror and violence visited upon the innocent and the unsuspecting. In fact, Singapore has suffered relatively little from these afflictions considering how exposed a country we are.

We are exposed because, firstly, traditionally we are an entrepot port. Secondly, we are also a centre for transport and communications. Thirdly, since the PAP formed the government in 1959 we have embarked on becoming a manufacturing centre, selling our wares to the world. Fourthly, since the decision to do so was taken in 1968 we are well on the way to becoming a financial centre. And now we are aiming to become a brains centre as well.

All these developments result in the increasing interaction of Singapore with other countries. What happens in these countries must inevitably be transmitted to us. Not all external developments affect us adversely. In fact, the reverse often is the case. When other countries prosper, so do we. However, when they suffer high oil prices, high rates of interest, low commodity prices and a slowdown of economic activity, we in turn suffer with them. To put it in another way, when the world has the flu we can hardly hope to escape from catching a cold.

But to what extent we suffer does depend on ourselves.

Our Republic has interactions not only economically but also politically with other countries. In some instances, the two do not go hand in hand. The Southeast Asian political scene has changed very dramatically in the last few years. The American and Western military presence is diminishing. It is in the nature of power politics that other powers, greater or smaller, will seek to establish positions of influence since hegemony is not possible. The President has referred to the important role that ASEAN can play to strengthen stability and peace in the region, by not permitting external powers to exploit differences between the five of us: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.

Our country is not only affected by external economic and political developments. It is likewise exposed to social and cultural influences from abroad, such as long hair, high heel boots, broad belts, jeans and the like - I refer only to men's fashions since we have at the present time, no lady hon. Members. We are also exposed to the international traffic in drugs which is more pernicious.

But we cannot shut our doors and windows upon the outside world, for that would be the end of us. We cannot isolate ourselves. To survive and to progress we have to keep our minds open; we have to learn from others, to adapt and to modernize.

Some people reject modernization because they equate it with westernization. However, we can modernize without sacrificing our Asian identity. Some years ago, the Professor of Malay Studies, Dr Syed Hussein Alatas, explained to me the difference between modernization, which he applauded, and westernization, about which he was suspicious. Said the Professor: `To have running water in your home is modernization. But to install a long-bath and then stand in it to have a shower, that is westernization.'

I would like to confine my remarks today about our young Singaporeans, on how to equip them with the proper values to survive, progress and enjoy life in a world that has become increasingly tough and competitive.

In the Addendum on the Ministry of Education, the President referred to the restructuring of the educational system and the need for in-service courses to familiarise principals and teachers with the philosophy of the new system.

We have had so many changes in the system of education in Singapore that perhaps we ought to declare a moratorium to see what structure we have got before further restructuring. However, other Members of the House, such as my colleagues from Moulmein, Telok Blangah, Paya Lebar and Jurong are more familiar and competent to deal with the subject.

I am concerned, however, with the values that our children are growing up with. What kind of values will they possess at the end of a six- or now perhaps seven-year primary school education? If I may say my piece, I am in favour of seven years. What will our children's perception be at the end of another four years of secondary school and then, if they make the grade, of a further two years Pre-University schooling?

I will not touch on university education which is different in nature and concept and generates problems of a different kind.

We became a sovereign state less than ten years ago. We are literally a nation without a history, without memories, such as the Chinese, Japanese and Koreans have of each other, or the English, French and German, to take another example. So, despite the existence of the largest British naval base outside of the British Isles in Singapore and its fall and Singapore's military occupation by the Japanese Imperial Forces for three and a half years. there were still people a few years ago, parents of young Singaporeans, who asked why we needed the Singapore Armed Forces.

I am therefore perturbed by the decision of the Ministry of Education to scrap history from the curriculum. Not because I used to teach the subject, I no longer do, but because I believe that every Singapore child must know what are his roots, the antiquity and cultural richness of the lands whence his forefathers came. He will want to know how his parents and himself came to be in Singapore and why it is a multiracial society with four official languages. As he or she rides in the NTUC bus he should know who were Raffles, Balestier, Boon Keng, Hong Lim or Kuo Chuan. He must know himself and be able to identify with Singapore. This, alas, is gone when the retrograde step of abolishing history in schools was taken.

I have nothing against the new subject "Education for Living" which my friend, the Parliamentary Secretary for Education, who sits in front of me made available to me. It is taught in the mother tongue of the child which is a good thing. However, it appears to be a course in community-living and is not designed for nation-building. It is therefore no substitute for history. Both could be included in the school curriculum: the one to give our children the cultural ballast which our leaders so often talk about, the other to engender the civic consciousness to ease the strains and stresses of living in a congested city state.

Our young and ourselves as well, not so young, are constantly reminded that nobody owes Singapore a living. Each and every one has to earn his keep. That is fine. Only by facing up to this hard fact of life and sharpening our competitive edge can we survive in a very tough world.

But life is not just a ratrace. Let us leave that race to the rats. There must be other things in life besides the struggle for more and more of the material things of life.

Mr Conceicao: Hear, hear!

Dr Chiang Hai Ding: I am at one with the Member for Kallang when he raised the subject of small digit car numbers. What can young minds conclude from learning that Mr XYZ paid the Government so many hundred or so many thousand dollars to be able to use a certain licence number plate. They will not, I fear, conclude that Mr XYZ has a heart of gold, although I am told the money goes to charity. I fear that the children will conclude that the done thing is to show your friends that not only can you afford a bigger car than they but that you can also afford a small digit number plate to go with it. This is two-upmanship which we should hardly like to see, much less encourage.

I applaud the statement in the President's Address that the Government wilt make it more attractive for young couples to have their parents live with them. As many Members have pointed out, we are an Asian society in which elders are regarded with respect, and rightly so. Family unity is a cornerstone of our social stability and a strong factor in preventing the disruption of our Asian way of life.

If we care not for our parents then we set an example for our children not to care for us as we grow old which, alas, we must. I recall a story from my childhood that the head of a household fashioned a wooden bowl for his aged father to use as the old man kept breaking the ordinary rice bowl. One day he found his young son chipping away at a piece of wood. When questioned the little boy replied that he was making a wooden bowl for his father to use when he became old like grandfather. The father, thus shamed, gave the old man ordinary rice bowls to use.

I do not wish to carry on, but we in Singapore are a singular example of a nation state - modernizing, Asian and multiracial. Our economic problems and those of the rest of the world notwithstanding, let us keep it that way for our children. And let us try to pass on to them something of that "graciousness" referred to in the Addendum on the Ministry of Culture.

Where else but in Singapore can we find an ethnic Indian, born in India, educated in Singapore, possessing a Science degree from the University of Singapore (a Master's degree in Marine Biology) and writing beautiful love poems to his ethnic Chinese wife in an English language magazine? I do not propose to read out his poems today but, in view of the forthcoming visit of our Foreign Minister to Peking, perhaps Mr Speaker and hon. Members will bear with me if I read three lines:

To the east, where there is sunrise

The mind must turn for the beginning of the world, in which only love matters.

(Chandran Nair, Her World, February 1975, p. 27)

The poems are published in a local women's magazine. This is perhaps appropriate, considering that 1975 has been designated United Nation's International Women's Year. I hope that the additional fact that this is also the Year of the Rabbit, which does not stop at two, will not create any special problems for our Minister for Health.

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I wish to express my thanks and support to the President for his Address last Friday.

4.50 p.m.

Mr Ho Kah Leong (Jurong) (in Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, in his Address to this House, the President has made an analysis of the position of Singapore. This analysis is both incisive and easy to understand. It points out the crux of the problem and it enables Singaporeans to understand the emphasis in the various Government ministries. More important, Sir, the President has painted an optimistic forecast of our economic prospects, and this is very encouraging and meaningful to Singaporeans who have made their sacrifices in the national interests.

In a disordered world economic structure and under the influence of economic recession and inflation, other countries have been adversely affected, but Singapore's growth rate has been comparatively much better. Notwithstanding all this, we have taken several measures to contain inflation so that our people will not suffer any more hardship. As a result, credit squeeze was imposed but this has also adversely affected our commerce and industries. Therefore, it is necessary for us to be able to implement with proper flexibility and strategy the various measures to counter inflation and recession for the interest of all the people. I believe that under the enlightened leadership of the Government and with the cooperation of peoples of all walks of life, all problems will be solved in due course. As our President has said, in the second half of the year our economy will turn for the better.

Now I would like to touch on education. Education is a matter which requires a hundred years of planning according to a saying. Every country regards the education of its citizens as a matter of prime importance. Every year we set aside a large sum of money in our Budget for expenditure on education. It shows how much importance the Government attach to education. Furthermore, the civic organisations equally are attaching greater importance to education. We still have Boards of Directors in the Government-aided schools. These schools are run on contributions from members of the public, and when they are affected by urban renewal, then the school boards will have to raise money to rebuild their schools elsewhere. This is the spirit that we should continue to encourage. Furthermore, the various civic organisations also have scholarships, bursaries and study loans available to our student population. These, together with those available from the Government sources, Singaporeans can enjoy equal opportunities in education. No matter how poor a student may be. he will be given an opportunity for higher education, so long as he is hardworking and talented. In this way, we are able to make the best use of our only resource, that is our human resource.

Sir, times are changing and so must our Education system change to adapt to the changing times. From the Addendum on the Ministry of Education, we are informed that the outmoded legislation on education will undergo an overhaul. We hope that in the process of amending the legislation on Education, the Ministry of Education will seek the views of the people concerned or interested in education, particularly the teachers' unions, so that the new Education Act will be able to meet the present needs of our country.

The next major restructure of the Education system is the conversion of the present six-year primary education to a seven-year primary education, with the provison to allow the brighter students to complete in six years. The aim is correct and proper and, that is, to remove the fear among our primary school children of examinations and to give them an opportunity to develop intellectually and to make learning more interesting and pleasant. There is a general concern among parents on the question of how to assess the children for a seven-year or a six-year education. Furthermore, there is also the question of restreaming. How should the streaming be done in the secondary stage? If there should be any erroneous assessment or restreaming, will it be possible for a student to change from the science stream to the academic stream, or from the academic stream to the technical stream, so that our talents are not misused or wasted? I hope the Minister for Education will, in preparing this restructuring programme, also give parents the opportunity to clear their doubts or misgivings. This is something which I hope the Minister will consider.

Sir, I beg to support the Motion in the name of the Member for Kim Keat.

4.56 p.m.

Mr Teong Eng Siong (Sembawang): (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I support the Motion by the Member for Kim Keat expressing our thanks to the President for his speech at the opening of this Parliament. In his speech and in the Addendum, the President has touched upon matters relating to Defence, Finance, Foreign Affairs, Education, Communications, Culture and others. He has indicated much in the Addendum to show that we want to build a more just and fair society. This policy speech forms the blueprint for our nation building. This speech is also what all citizens who are interested in our welfare and nation building should pay attention to.

The Addendum on Finance touched upon the Government's decision to extend the five years' tax concession to pioneer industries to ten years in order to encourage more petrochemical industries and other industries in order to draw large sums of investment into Singapore, and also to encourage the education and training of skilled workers. Therefore, these various concessions are very good indeed. I hope this concessionary policy will be able to attract more international investments into Singapore so as to promote Singapore's economic development and bring about more employment opportunities for the people of Singapore.

In the Addendum on Education, mention is made of the changes in the Education system. For instance, primary school education will be extended to seven years. Those students with good results could complete their primary education in six years, and the Primary School Leaving Examination will be a grading exercise and not a kind of examination to decide whether one has passed or not. This will be some sort of an encouragement to the primary school pupils and will arouse their interest in learning. Changing the Education system to suit the child's ability is good as it provides him with an education that will suit his aptitude and so assures him of a better chance of getting a job after completing his primary school education.

Mr Speaker: Order. It is 5.00 o'clock now, Mr Teong.