PRESIDENT'S SPEECH Debate on the Address

Debate resumed

Question again proposed.

The Minister for Social Affairs (Encik Othman Bin Wok): Mr Speaker, Sir, I must certainly say that this House has become very interesting and lively in the last few days. Every Member who has spoken seems to be rejuvenated and has come out quite strongly on certain issues. If this keeps up and the debates remain as constructive and lively, then we shall all be working towards a better government and administration for the people.

Hon. Members of this House have raised a few matters concerning my Ministry and I would like to reply to them. Firstly, of course, on sports. The hon. Member for Telok Blangah has suggested the introduction of daylight saving so that there can be one more hour of daylight for the people to participate in sports. May I point out that there is enough daylight as it is for everyone to enjoy recreation, if the people put their minds to it. With prudent practice of stagatime, the ordinary joys of keeping fit can still be the lot of our people.

In his references to facilities for sports and recreation, the hon. Member, whilst complimenting "the many excellent facilities" which are being set up for the people to enjoy when taking part in "all forms of sports and outdoor activities", feels that the Master Plan caters for the haves and neglects the have-nots. He may not be aware that one of the major objectives of the Master Plan is to meet the deficiencies in popular sports facilities. If he makes some enquiries and research he would discover that there are facilities in football fields, open spaces, swimming pools, court surfaces and indoor halls which are largely used by the majority of our people, young as well as old. One of the offshoots of the Master Plan has been the release of many more school fields and halls, adding to the array of facilities available to our people.

The hon. Member has also said that the facilities are revenue-generating and this immediately eliminates our younger citizens who cannot pay. We all know, Sir, that the Government's policy is not to provide anything for free. Persons using the sports facilities are expected to pay for their use so that they can appreciate what has been provided. The provision and maintenance of all sports facilities are heavily subsidised by Government grants. For example, a football field at Farrer Park is subsidised at 95% in its maintenance costs. For 22 young persons using a well-maintained football field, the cost works out at approximately 15 cents per head per day to the users, but it costs Government about $57 per day in subsidy. In swimming pools which are the most popular facility the subsidy varies from 50% - 90% in its maintenance costs. These costs exclude the capital expenditure involved in the construction of these facilities.

The young also have various fringe benefits as all those in schools pay a concession rate to swimming poo1s and to the use of tennis courts on a school booking basis. Again all those in National Service and reservists, who form a large portion of our young citizens, similarly enjoy concession usage to poo1s and other facilities. The People's Association Youth Group which number some 20,000 in membership also enjoys concession privileges to swimming pools. The Liaison Officer and Chairman of the hon. Member's Constituency Sports Club would have been able to tell him that members of his Club too enjoy this latest concession to swimming pools. This philosophy of our people paying a little towards usage is to develop an attitude of proper use and to prevent abuse.

The hon. Member also spoke of his disagreement with the Sports Council's rationale in the Sports for All policy. I would like to quote what our Prime Minister said when he declared open the National Stadium:

With a population of just over two million, let us not waste time to go Out of our way to produce gold medalists, whether for Olympic, Asian or SEAP games There are no national benefits from gold medalists for smaller countries. For the super powers, with large populations, winning in sports becomes national propaganda to persuade people of the superiority of their competing political systems. But it is foolish and wasteful for the smaller countries to copy this ... Any Olympic sports council member or an affiliate club which sets Out to persuade above average sportsman or sportswoman to devote the best years of their lives to training and becoming gold medalists will find their zeal misplaced, and funds cut off, For they will do an injustice to these persons ...

I have also said elsewhere that the Government's policy of Sports for All cannot be achieved if sports are confined only to the constituency level. More emphasis will be placed on inter-constituency sports to enable a broad base for sports to be built in Singapore. It is through the building of a broad base for sports that Singapore can hope to produce world-ranking sportsmen or sportswomen. Our priority is to build a healthy and robust society. We should not spend our time, effort and money in trying to produce world champions.

Our country needs the people who are fit and if champions rise through our popular base of sports-consciousness, then we shall be thankful. But we do not need to produce champions in order to encourage sports participation. Our society has not the infrastructure to support the narrow pursuit of champion production. On the contrary, it is unproductive. We do not need to purposefully strive to produce a Pele or a Mark Spitz. What we want is a nation of fair-minded sportsmen, able to enjoy a competition in amateur earnestness among friends and neighbours, to enjoy the thrills of skilled display in the Athenian sense but not necessarily to see regimented materialistic and selfish modern gladiators, unable to think and act beyond the chase of gladiatorial glory. To this end. the SSC with the warm support of sponsors have schemes for the improvements of skills and the development of a skilled base.

On the hon. Member's observation that Constituency Games are not popular, for his information, since 1972 when Inter-Constituency Games were introduced there has been a steady growth not only in the number of games but also in the number of participants. For example, the Inter-Constituency Table Tennis Tournament of 1977 has drawn 66 teams out of 69 constituencies.

To the suggestion that Constituency Sports Rules be amended to allow sponsorship by business firms, we should not adopt a commercial hard sell for sports. We do not want each constituency game to become a duplication of a Business House League. Donors and sponsors are there and have been there. There should be no cause and call for blatant advertising by sponsors. It is the subtlety and quality of harnessing scant resources towards desirable sports promotion that have hallmarked our constituency sports promotion.

With regard to the recommendation by the hon. Member for Whampoa that constituency sports clubs be given more generous funds, the Sports Council will continue to provide grants to help constituency sports clubs in their efforts to promote mass participation in sports. There is still no substitute for self-sustenance in sports promotion and I would urge that MPs should continue with their exemplary leadership and approach in obtaining funds for constituency sports promotion.

The hon. Member for Long Kee has suggested that a Department or Ministry be set up to probe into youth problems. I would like to point out that there is a National Youth Co-ordinating Committee under the chairmanship of the People's Association. This Committee co-ordinates youth activities.

There have been some comments on the care of the aged. Increasing attention is being given to the aged, particularly those who are destitute and have no families or close relatives. The destitute old people are granted public assistance allowance by the Social Welfare Department. Those not able to manage on their own and requiring institutional care are placed in the Woodlands Home for the Aged, an old people's home run by the Department, or in old people's homes run by voluntary organisations. I feel, as far as possible, old people should live in the community rather than be admitted into an institution. So, efforts are being made to encourage self-help among the aged so that given financial aid or supportive help they can continue to live within the community.

It is agreed that more has to be done for the aged, but the Government alone cannot be expected to do all. Voluntary efforts and community involvement are necessary. The community is encouraged to assist in providing services to the aged. Various youth groups and voluntary welfare organisations are playing an important part. While more is being done for the aged, the Government is aware that it may encourage rejection or abandonment of the aged by their families. The call to instil filial piety in our children and youth is welcomed The most effective way is through the families and our education system

The hon. Member for Whampoa and the hon. Member for Potong Pasir have commented on the inadequacy of the quantum of Public Assistance. The rates of Public Assistance have just been revised last year, 1st March, 1976 by 40% because of the substantial increase in the prices of essential commodities since January 1973 when the rates were last revised.

Since March last year, prices of essential commodities have not changed much to warrant a further review of the Public Assistance rates at present.

Sir, hon. Members are aware that the rates of Public Assistance are $40 per month for a Head of Household. $26 per month for the wife and $17 per month for each dependant, subject to a maximum of $100 per household.

Relief recipients, in addition to receiving Public Assistance are also receiving benefits in cash and kind from charitable bodies and voluntary organisations. Free medical treatment is given by Government for those who are ill. Fares are also given to relief recipients attending Government hospitals and clinics for medical treatment.

Every effort is made to encourage even the aged and the handicapped to do whatever casual work that may be available. This is partly to enable them to get a little extra income from elsewhere so that they need not be dependent on Government relief. More importantly, some casual work will relieve them of their boredom and loneliness and make their lives more meaningful

The criteria for Public Assistance is stringent and those recipients who are able but unwilling to work are disqualified from Public Assistance.

For 1976, $3.6 million was disbursed in Public Assistance to a monthly average of 6,640 families.

With regard to the case mentioned by the hon. Member for Potong Pasir, I would like to state that it is not possible that the old lady and her husband had their Public Assistance reduced to $20 when she was hospitalised If the hon. Member can provide me with further information, I shall have the case investigated.

The Social Welfare Department ensures that relief recipients are able to collect their allowances at Centres nearest their homes so that they need not be inconvenienced or pay unnecessary expenditure on transport.

Where the head of a household is unable to collect the allowance due to illness or other reasons, he can authorise his wife or another person to collect it on his behalf. Where a recipient is unable to get anyone to collect on his behalf, the Public Assistance allowance is made to the recipient by the Social Welfare Department staff at his home. In all cases where the recipients are ill or found to be bedridden and there is no one to collect on their behalf, their allowances are always paid to them at their homes or at the hospitals by staff of the Social Welfare Department.

The hon. Member for Whampoa had asked why there is no provision of legal aid for criminal cases, apart from murder cases He also mentioned that a poor person who is unfortunate enough to be involved in a criminal case and who cannot afford a lawyer is likely to suffer more injustice. Whilst it is true that the legislation which set up the Legal Aid Bureau way back in 1958 did envisage granting legal aid in criminal cases, it was decided not to bring into operation this part of the legislation as it was felt that there was a greater need with regard to civil matters then as now where legal aid would be more effectively used to the benefit of our citizens. Accordingly, when the Legal Aid Bureau started to function, it confined itself solely to civil matters. The Director and four Assistants dealt with a lot of civil claims, ranging from the recovery of small sums of less than $1,000 to the recovery of premises and acting for squatters who were dispossessed when their lands were reclaimed by their owners without any compensation whatsoever, although the squatters might well have been in occupation for decades. Since then. the activities of the Legal Aid Bureau have spread to all the branches of the civil law, including drafting contracts and helping widows and dependants claim their dues from deceaseds' estates. They have also been most active and helpful to wives who have been deserted and left without means of support. It is in matrimonial cases that the Legal Aid Bureau at present provides the most appreciated form of assistance.

Even in regard to legal aid in civil cases, the Director and his present staff have, at times, been compelled to farm out their cases to members of the legal profession. Accordingly, they find themselves quite unable to cope with any increase that must surely come if and when the legal aid in criminal cases is introduced.

This is not the first time that a request for the implementation of this part of the legal aid legislation has been made to me. I have had such requests since the early sixties but on each occasion I have been unable to bring about the operation of this part of the legislation mainly because of two reasons:

(i) the tremendous amount of cost that would have been involved; and

(ii) it is felt that all prosecutions, being supervised by the Attorney-General, would only be brought by the Police in cases where there is prima facie evidence against the accused, so that instances of injustice that may arise from a prosecution being instituted against a citizen, is reduced to the barest minimum.

The Ministry feels that the social need for legal aid in criminal cases in Singapore is not as great as to warrant its introduction now, but we do have in mind its social benefits and when the, need and expense that will be incurred with its introduction are justified, it will certainly be given every consideration.

Dr Augustine Tan: Mr Speaker, Sir, may I just clarify?

Encik Othman Bin Wok: Sir, the Member can make his clarification after I have completed my speech.

My Ministry is considering setting up a committee of officials to look into the immediate welfare problems which have arisen as a result of developments and, in consultation with officials of relevant Ministries, to see how assistance can be rendered in areas such as rent arrears cases, allocation of flats and hawker licences to welfare cases.

5.25 p.m.

The Minister for National Development and Communications (Mr Lim Kim San): Mr Speaker, Sir, quite a large number of points have been raised by hon. Members with regard to the policy and administration of the Ministry of Communications and Ministry of National Development as well as the Public Utilities Board. I do not intend to reply to all of them. I will take a few points, the rest will be taken in due course by the two Senior Ministers of State.

Sir, we all know that the fame of the hon. Member for Kampong Chai Chee as a rat catcher has spread far and wide. We also know him as a good story teller. But when he last spoke he revealed that he is also a fortune teller.

He told us he foresaw the traffic jam that would result from development in the Central Business District and in vain did he warn the HDB against building one-room flats which he predicted would become future slums.

Sir, let us examine why no heed was taken of the hon. Member's warning and, in doing so, let us remember that the period was more than a decade ago. i.e, in the early 6Os - a period of a world removed from now. Then, we were faced with the problems of poverty, of shortages and of unemployment. Now, after 1 7 years of political stability, economic progress and social development, we are faced with a different set of problems, though I say it is a more pleasant set of problems to face than the one we faced previously, and that is the problem of higher expectations as a result of growing affluence

The average human being has a high propensity to forget the unpleasant incidents in life. It is a useful quality and helps to keep him sane. The Member for Kampong Chai Chee must have this quality in a high degree, and in the midst of his great oration, he must have forgotten that we were once faced with a serious shortage of housing.

There was not much construction activity, as you will remember, Sir, in the period between the end of the Second World War and the early 60's. The population, however, had expanded due to natural growth and immigration and shanty towns or slums were found all over Singapore. To the head of a family, a one-room flat in more hygienic surroundings was far better than his overcrowded, smelly and dark accommodation. A one-room flat then with its running water., modern sanitation, electricity supply and proper kitchen was heaven compared to the congested, rat infested, unhealthy and fire prone hovel of an attap hut he occupied. Many hon. Members present here today must have remembered how an applicant's face lit up when he was allocated any HDB flat. He could not afford to be choosy then.

The need for decent housing was urgent. Many applicants could only afford to rent one-room flats. One must remember that the average income then was $124.58 per month as against the present income of $506.73 per month. So whether we like it or not, the decision was taken to build these one-room emergency flats.

The one-room flat has served its purpose. It is still useful and will still be useful. While listening to the hon. Member for Kampong Chai Chee the other day, I remembered a local Malay proverb Lepas jambatan buang tongkat, that is to say, "Throw away the walking stick which aided you, after crossing the bridge". Lest we forget, the poor is still with us and there will be a continual demand for one-room flats.

For the information of hon. Members, there are 3,587 applicants on the waiting list to rent one-room flats. This is 25% of the 14,086 applicants on the waiting list to rent flats as at the end of last month.

Well, to come to the Member's suggestion that we should do away with the one-room flats. Listening to him, I thought it was a very simple thing. I only wish I had a magic wand. But even though I had a magic wand which could, with one wave change the one-room flats into an old people's home or a community centre, I would not use it for the simple reason that there would be trouble. He has not thought out the problem properly.

As I have said, hon. Members must be aware that there has been improvement in design as well as enlargement of the built-up area of HDB flats. For example, when the first flat was built, the built-up area of the one-room flat was 240 sq ft. It was then increased to 320 sq ft. As we went on and began to learn from the mistakes made, it was increased to 350 sq ft and the present one-room improved flat has a floor area of 370 sq ft.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the rat catcher - I am sorry. The hon. Member for Kampong Chai Chee gave the impression that there was no progress made.

Mr Fong Sip Chee: On the contrary, Sir -

Mr Lim Kim San: Mr Speaker, Sir, he had his say and we had all listened to him with great patience. I think he should cultivate the quality of patience and listen in turn.

An hon. Member: Well said!

Mr Lim Kim San: Sir, I get the impression that he thinks the HDB is not concerned with the older estates. On the contrary, Sir, The HDB's priority is to provide Singapore citizens with adequate housing. It has done so for the majority and is now turning its attention to improving the older estates.

The HDB has already converted 904 units of one-room emergency flats in Bukit Ho Swee into 384 units of self-contained two-room flats. Similarly. Sir, in St. Michael's Estate, the Board has converted 816 units of one-room emergency flats into 360 units of self-contained two-room flats.

Dr Augustine Tan: And raise the rent!

Mr Lim Kim San: Sir, if hon. Members have read the Addenda to the President's Speech with care, they would have noted that nothing is for free and that only social services and education will be subsidised But here. Sir, all the one-room flats are heavily subsidised and after conversion they will still be subsidised. So to charge a two-room flat for the price of one is not possible.

Dr Augustine Tan: Sir, on a point of clarification. Are we going to have a debate or are we going to have a one-man show?

Mr Speaker: Do you have a point of clarification?

Dr Augustine Tan: Point of clarification. Sir, I said in my speech that although this was done in my constituency, I decried the fact that the people were being deprived of the cheap rental, I suggested that in future improvements might be made by way of increased ventilation and so on, but not to increase the rent. I hope that helps the hon. Minister.

Mr Lim Kim San: Sir, it does help me to refresh my memory of what he has said. But it does not contest my point that you cannot rent out a two-room flat for the price of a one-room flat.

The HDB is aware and is very sympathetic with the desire of the residents of the older estates for improved recreational facilities and amenities such as those available in the new estates. It has drawn up a programme to improve facilities in the older estates. This, however, will take time and hon. Members must understand that improvements are restricted by physical limitations of existing environment. There are also competing interests, for example, do we provide car parks or open space? The HDB will endeavour to strike a happy balance between these competing interests

Sir, the question of resettlement was also raised, Resettlement is a most unpleasant but necessary exercise. It has been the Government's policy to try and ameliorate the sufferings and hardship caused to those resettled. Much as we like to, we are unable to offer the same facilities to non-citizens as we do to our own, that is, giving them alternative accommodation. Priority is always given to our own citizens and as hon Members are aware, we have now more than 80,000 families waiting for public housing in addition to our own citizens who are affected by resettlement.

Notwithstanding this, the rules have been relaxed to give special consideration for permanent residents who are affected by resettlement schemes to get public housing on rental if one of their children is the holder of a Singapore pink identity card.

The Resettlement Department has been offering alternative shops to all shopkeepers affected by clearance scheme in so far as their trades are suitable to be carried out in such premises. The offer is open to citizens as well as non-citizens. The only difference is that in the case of non-citizens, they are not given rental concession for the shops as these benefits are only offered to the shopkeepers who are Singapore citizens.

To come to another subject, Mr Speaker, Sir, I am really surprised that quite a number of Members in this House do not know what the surcharge on a PUB bill is. Many Members referred to it as a PUB surcharge. It is not a PUB surcharge. It is a charge imposed as part of Government's fiscal policy and the PUB acts as collecting agent for the Government as a matter of convenience. It does not form part of PU B's revenue and the PUB has no authority to impose, increase, reduce or remove it. Hon. Members who request the PUB to explain or reconsider the surcharge are barking up the wrong tree

An hon. Member: Which is the right tree to bark?

Mr Lim Kim San: Perhaps the appropriate place is to raise it during the Budget debate.

Some hon. Members: Yes, we will.

Mr Lim Kim San: However. Members may be interested to know that 70% of our domestic consumers are exempted from the surcharge as their total monthly bills are less than $35. About 14% pay tax at 5% and the remainder pay 10% as their bills exceed $50 monthly.

Following the fourfold increase in the price of oil, electricity and gas charges have gone up considerably, and so have complaints over PUB bills. This increase in complaints is not only common to Singapore. It is a phenomenon common to utility authorities in other countries too. However, there has been quite a number of queries raised by Members over PUB bills and to assist them to explain to their constituents, the PUB has set up a team to assist Members at meet-the-people sessions in answering queries from their constituents. The hon. Member for Kampong Chai Chee has made use of the services. Recently, he had a team from the PUB at his meet-the-people session.

Mr Fong Sip Chee: No. It was a forum.

Mr Lim Kim San: I am sorry. Meet-the-people forum.

Mr Fong Sip Chee: It is still wrong. It was just a forum.

Mr Lim Kim San: Right! Just a forum where they met and discussed the queries which his constituents had raised. It was a useful session except for the fact that the hon. Member was playing the hero and baiting the members of the PUB team.

We in this House have heard from time to time about how uncivil some of our civil servants are. Perhaps it is not out of turn for me to say that from time to time we also must remind ourselves that we should behave towards civil servants as we expect them to behave towards us.

I know it is very difficult sometimes to resist the temptation to play the hero in front of your constituents but do not do it please at the expense of those who cannot or will not answer back.

I hold no brief for the rude civil servant but I hope and expect that Members of Parliament will always behave as political leaders should. Members who want to make use of the services of this team to help them explain some of the queries which their constituents may raise with regard to their bills, please contact the PRO. Arrangements will be made accordingly.

I mentioned sometime ago that the PUB is encouraging its consumers to read their own meters and they will be billed according to their own readings. This will thus reduce complaints about wrong meter readings and/or over-charging.

Pamphlets explaining the reading of utility meters were sent out to all the 470,000-odd consumers. But so far, only about 1,000 consumers are sending in their own readings for billing. The campaign to encourage consumers to read their own meters will continue and the Board is working on a scheme to enable the consumers to submit their meter readings on prepaid postage cards. I hope the response will be more positive this time.

The hon. Member for Kim Seng suggests a public debate before fixing PUB charges. Charging and pricing of utilities is a very complicated affair unlike pricing a grocery item off the shelf. Take electricity charges, for instance. Different charges have to be worked out for different types of consumers. There are the domestic low and high tension consumers; the industrial low and high tension consumers and the commercial low and high tension consumers. Some of these consumers have to pay a maximum demand charge in addition to others. These are but some of the factors which have to be taken into consideration when you draw up an electrical tariff.

For the information of Members, for the last revision of electrical tariffs by the PUB, we engaged a very well-known electrical and tariff specialist. It took this specialist, a well-known company, Messrs. Electro Watts. 2 1/2 years of very careful study and evaluation before recommending a tariff which we accepted. That is the new tariff in which the same charge is levied for electricity, whether it is used for power or for lighting. It is not a simple thing. So to suggest that we have a public debate with the common laymen before you fix PUB charges is tantamount, Mr Speaker, Sir, to my asking you whether you would seek the opinion of the butcher before you embark on a very complicated operation.

5.51 pm

Mr Fong Sip Chee: Mr Speaker, Sir, I wish to clarify a few points. The first point is that I hope the House will note that I allowed myself to be interrupted twice by a Senior Minister and I was not allowed to clarify my position with one Minister So the standard is clear for all of us to assess and watch. If that is gentlemanly etiquette which the Minister expected, perhaps this is an example of what he meant by gentlemanly etiquette.

Now, just a few points, Sir, When I referred to the one-room unit. I was referring to the emergency type one-room unit and not the improved type that the Minister has mentioned. That is the first point.

The next point is with regard to my reputation or whatever fame the Minister has bestowed on me as a rat catcher. I did not ask for it. I would not have been a rat catcher if the Hon. Minister or some other Member had stood in that constituency, when somebody else would have been the tat catcher.

The third point, Sir, If the PUB claims to have done so much for the people, I just want to know the cost of the construction of the PUB swimming pool. the saline content of that swimming pool and whether we, the consumers, since we pay PUB charges, are also entitled to take advantage of that pool which is right at the roof-top of the new PUB building.

Dr Ong Leong Boon (Kim Seng): Mr Speaker, Sir, I know that the Hon Minister is known for his debating skill and verbal -

Mr Speaker: Order. Dr Ong, are you rising on a point of clarification, or are you going to make a speech?

Dr Ong Leong Boon: Mr Speaker, Sir, I think he has unfairly distorted what I said yesterday What I said was that in respect of PUB bills perhaps the television could provide a forum for the PUB to explain and justify its charges. I did not at any time suggest that the charges were too high or too low.

Haji Rahmat Bin Kenap (Geylang Serai): (In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, just now the Hon. Minister said that some relaxation was accorded to holders of Singapore blue identity cards whose houses were affected by resettlement schemes and that they would be allowed to rent HDB flats on condition that one of their children was a holder of the Singapore pink identity card. I would like to ask whether, if the children are minors, but born in Singapore, this aspect could be given consideration?

Mr Lim Kim San: Mr Speaker, Sir, When a child holds a card, it means that he is grown up. But in the case mentioned here, just for the sake of getting a Housing Board flat, they start to have a baby immediately I think there is a limitation there.

Mr Speaker, Sir, I am very sorry that the Member for Kampong Chai Chee takes it very personally. I did not give him the nomenclature of a "rat catcher". It was headlines in all the papers. I do not mean it to be derisive. I am just making a statement of fact.

Mr Speaker, Sir, he is welcome as my guest to swim in the PUB pool. The PUB swimming pool in the new building is part of the recreational facilities for members of the PUB staff. I do not think anyone would deny employees of a large organisation facilities for their recreation and relaxation A swimming poo1 is not peculiar to the PUB. There are many other statutory bodies which have swimming pools

Coming to the Member for Kim Seng, maybe I did unintentionally distort a little bit of what he said. But what I am trying to convey to Members here is that to debate on PUB charges, especially the electricity tariff, is not a very simple proposition. I do not think it is a practical proposition unless you are a specialist too. If it is uncomplicated, there is no need for electrical tariff specialists. It took the specialist 2 1/2 years to come up with his recommendation To spend 10 to 20 minutes debating this complicated subject over TV with laymen is, I think, an impractical proposition.

Mr Fong Sip Chee: Mr Speaker, Sir, I have forgotten one point. It is unfair for the Minister to accuse me of playing hero at the forum.

Mr Lim Kim San: Mr Speaker, Sir, this is a matter of contention. I do not want to debate on this with him here. What I am saying is that we do from time to time in this House bring up the question of how uncivil civil servants are. We do not like that. What I am saying here now is that I am placing a group of civil servants at Members' disposal to help them solve their problems with their constituents. But. for goodness sake, let us remember that they are also human beings and let us be civil to them. That is all I am asking.

Mr Fong Sip Chee: I am not disputing what the Minister has said. He is quite free to say what he thought fit. What I want to clarify is that before the forum, we had a discussion in order to crystallise certain points to be raised. Otherwise. if everyone were to raise a point, the PUB team would not be able to emerge from the forum after midnight. So certain questions were crystallised and I had the honour to mention just one of them. It happened that that particular question was a bit pungent. The PUB team found the explanation rather difficult.

Mr Lim Kim San: Mr Speaker, Sir, I am not asking him for a justification of his attitude at the forum. The impression I had was that he was playing hero. and my appeal to Members here is to be civil. Let us do unto others what we expect others to do unto us. He can talk till the cows come home but he himself will not be convinced that he was quite aggressive and he was playing hero. I think it is a waste of time for me and him to stand up here and argue over that point

Mr Fong Sip Chee: Mr Speaker, Sir, I think I should have the right to clarify this point. I am not taking on the Minister on a debate on that point He got that impression Now he is hearing it from me. There was no question of me playing hero. That was not my intention It was a simple question asked. If the Minister chooses to believe the kind of impression which somebody else has, or he agrees to that impression, I have no control over his mental capacity. Sir.

Mr Lim Kim San: Thank God for that!

6.00 p.m.

[Mr Deputy Speaker in the Chair]

The Senior Minister of State for National Development (Dr Tan Eng Liang): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Ministry of National Development appears to be extremely popular, as I have here a whole list of observations and complaints made by various Members of this House. However, I shall try to be as brief as I can and go through the more important observations or complaints made by hon. Members. To those Members whose queries or observations are not covered in my answers (they are actually here) they can see me if they really want the answers.

Sir, let me start off with the most popular theme. and this is the Housing and Development Board. To start the ball rolling, the hon Member for Kuo Chuan questioned the transfer of tenancy of HDB flats from a deceased tenant Let me say that the hon. Member has been misinformed that, under the current policy of the Board, transfers of tenancy or leases to the next-of-kin in the event of the demise of the tenant or the lessee are not allowed. The true situation is that in such a circumstance, the HDB would effect an immediate transfer to the next-of-kin of the tenant in the case of rental or the lessee in the case of purchase. The immediate family who are non-citizens but are permanent residents also qualify. This policy also applies to applicants on the waiting list for HDB flats.

Sir, my Minister has replied to a number of queries on the lack of recreational facilities as brought up by the Member for Aljunied. Perhaps for the new Member for Changi who complained vigorously on the poor workmanship in the construction of HDB flats, may I. for brevity, say that these observations and complaints were made at the last Budget session. Could I, therefore, indulge upon him to look up the Hansard where all the reasons have been enunciated. One important point perhaps he should bear in mind is that in 1976 the Housing and Development Board completed a total of 30,024 units of flats and shops. This is almost twice the number of 16.147 units of flats and shops completed by the Board in 1971. In terms of volume, this is four times the amount of building space put in.

Perhaps I can just summarise for him, in general headings, what the HDB has done to prevent this complaint of poor workmanship; starting from apprenticeship schemes with the Industrial Training Board. He may have heard that the HDB has introduced a merit star incentive scheme for contractors. There is also an experimental scheme with different types of construction, such as the Danish industrial method of construction, the Australian progressive strength method of construction, and a scheme called the mental formwork. So if he really wants to know all the details, could he please refer to the Hansard.

Sir, another complaint by the hon Member for Changi is that the HDB does not give clear instructions regarding regulations governing renovation of flats. This is also a general complaint made by a few other MPs. Let me state categorically that the regulations governing renovation work in HDB flats are extremely clear The procedure following the balloting of flats is that the successful applicants are given a resident handbook providing all the necessary information concerning application for permits for renovation. It also gives a list of contractors who are licensed to carry out such renovation. The majority of the purchasers of the flats have no difficulty at all in following these regulations However, there is a minority of flat owners who disregard the regulations, and therefore run into difficulties with the Board. A common example is the removal of the wall tiles and also the construction of a raised platform on the floor. The HDB has to take stringent action on this as it has resulted in overloading of the floor which in turn gives rise to a reduction of the height between the floor and the ceiling of the flat.

Sir, the Member has also mentioned the concession shops at Changi. Perhaps he may want to know that out of a total of 46 shops in Changi Village which were let out solely to resettlement cases in January 1976, the rising rental is only $277 to $555. Out of the 46 shops let out, only one is left vacant. This vacant shop was open for public tender and the public tender was $750 per month. It is therefore unreasonable to suggest that the concession rentals are the cause of poor business. However, the Ministry will keep monitoring the situation.

The Member for Anson brought up the question of HDB maintenance charges. I am surprised that he has raised this question because he actually spends part of his time at the HDB and he should know about the maintenance charges. Since he is not here now, I do not think I shall answer his question because I think he knows what it is all about.

Sir, the next observation made by the Member for Telok Blangah as well as the Member for Punggol is on better timing of bus services to new housing estates. I think that is a valid observation. The HDB is equally concerned and, therefore, the Board has instituted a number of formal channels together with the SBS in order to plan a proper time schedule for buses serving new estates.

Assistance for financially needy tenants was mentioned by the hon. Member for Ang Mo Kio. It suffices for me merely to mention that his concern is well placed, and that the HDB is helping these needy tenants in various ways: for example, giving them special consideration for hawker stalls, by informing the various CCCs and MCs and also the Social Welfare Department on their need for financial assistance.

The hon. Member for Whampoa has mentioned that the HDB should be careful in selecting proper sites for hawkers. That observation is noted and I can say that that is actually being followed.

Another observation made by the Member for Whampoa is on the question of designing window grilles. Here, the Board must explain that it is obviously undesirable to give a free hand in the decoration of flats to the whims and fancies of each occupier. As far as the internal surfacing is concerned, they have a free choice. But for external presentation, a certain conformity is required. If there is lack of such control in some blocks of private flats, the result is a chaotic presentation of exteriors of buildings which becomes an eyesore.

Dr Augustine Tan: A point of clarification, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, On this point of window grilles, I do not see how this can affect the exterior. I have looked at many private flats and they look very beautiful It is a matter of taste.

Dr Tan Eng Liang: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, as the Member has correctly pointed out, it is a matter of taste. And since the HDB has that authority, the taste is HDB's. Anyway, we will try to give as best a design as we can.

The Member has also brought up the question of open air coffee shops. I would like to mention that coffee shops also involve the Ministry of the Environment. If more tables and chairs are allowed in the open areas, there is a possibility that they may need larger kitchens, perhaps bigger toilets, and this could lead to the problem of obstruction and to other complaints from residents or proprietors of adjacent shops. From experience, there have been such complaints in the past and even of incidents of fights, and the HDB therefore stringently observes the policy of not allowing extensions into open areas. Anyway, let me assure the Member that if any case merits consideration, it will be so given.

Sir, the Member's observation on one-room flats has been ably explained by my Minister.

The next lot of questions from Members is on resettlement. Here again. I am glad that the hon. Member for Jurong is not here because he is extremely persevering. He has brought up the question of bona fide farmer, every now and then. In fact. I just want to tell him that a bona fide farmer has been defined as one whose livelihood is entirely dependent on farming, and that subject has been brought up many times in the last Parliament where he had asked some questions and we had given him some replies. So I think there is no point `In labouring through all the various answers which run into three pages.

The new Member for Changi has touched on the question of resettlement. He complained that the people were not properly compensated and even said that a resettlement officer actually made a commitment on the amount of compensation to be paid. If it was a verbal commitment, we are in no position to say whether it is right or wrong. But let me assure him that, as far as we are concerned, there can be no instance where, the actual compensation is different from the amount originally given in writing. If the Member is convinced that he has a case, we would be prepared to investigate.

The Member also went on to complain about the unsympathetic, impatient and high-handed officials bullying illiterate rural folks by asking them to sign documents hurriedly. Here again, I can merely reiterate that resettlement officers have been instructed - and if he wants I can send him circulars to that effect - to provide all the necessary explanations and guidance to those affected by resettlement. Again, if the Member can bring to my attention any specific cases of rudeness and discourtesy, we will be happy to investigate. I think the Member should be happy with all these replies.

The new MP has also brought up the question of inadequate compensation Here again, if he could bear with us and look up the Hansard of the last Budget session, when we spent a lot of time explaining the adequacy of the compensation. In fact, it touches on the resettlement of farmers who are allocated land and resettlement in housing for farmers who give up their land and who are not allowed to continue farming. So I would ask him to look up the Hansard on this matter.

The Member also went on to say that the Resettlement Department is very hardhearted and that they do not take into consideration the livelihood of affected elderly farmers who have been working in the field for many years. Here again, I can simply say that farmers who qualify for land allocation are given alternative land to continue their livelihood. But for those who do not opt for alternative land, they get enhanced compensation and a free flat, or cash in lieu is given. It is the present policy of the HDB to build flats in the rural centres. These centres are close to the farming areas where employment can be found in the larger farms which are, by the way, in short supply of farmers or workers. Such rural centres can be found in Jalan Kayu and Punggol. But if the Member can justify that he has a really big farming community in Changi, perhaps he can let us know that he may need such facilities.

The point raised by the Member for Kampong Chai Chee has again been answered by my Minister.

Mr Fong Sip Chee: There is no answer yet.

Dr Tan Eng Liang: Is the Member referring to a single person who is a citizen and is affected by resettlement and that he has to combine with another single person to qualify for priority allocation?

Mr Fong Sip Chee: Yes.

Dr Tan Eng Liang: Well, in fact I have the answer here. There are a large number of single persons affected by resettlement schemes and that makes it necessary to suggest that they should pair up for allocation of one-room HDB flats. Our experience has shown that these single persons who seek rehousing are often quite old and are without children or relatives, Most of them merely occupy a bunk or sharing a cubicle or room with others It is therefore more humane and indeed practical to rehouse them with other persons so as to provide them with some form of companionship and respite from loneliness and also an opportunity to share rent and utility expenses. If they cannot, then the MP concerned can always write to us and, on sympathetic and hardship grounds, consideration can be given. As I have mentioned many times before, each case will be considered on its own merit.

The Member's query on permanent residents affected by resettlement has been answered by my Minister.

The Member for Nee Soon has queried that in the rural areas the orchid growers and tropical fish breeders affected by clearance could not find alternative sites. In Singapore, available land for agriculture is unfortunately limited. Although tropical fish breeders and orchid growers are earners of foreign exchange, priorities for alternative land is accorded to those agricultural activities which produce food such as pig, poultry and vegetable growing. The Primary Production Department has found it extremely difficult to provide alternative sites for aquarium fish breeders due to their special requirements. They require sites with good water supply and soil conditions which are able to retain water for proper fish breeding. Such areas are extremely limited in Singapore and, if available, are normally heavily encumbered with existing farms.

With regard to orchid growers, the Department is currently making available the buffer zones of the pig farming estates at Jalan Kayu for the resettlement of viable orchid growers

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education (Mr Ahmad Mattar): May I make a point of clarification? On the question of old folks finding their own "flat mates", if I may use the word, would it not be easier for them if the HDB, since the HDB knows who they are and their whereabouts, could help them to look for "flat mates", rather than asking them to look for their mates themselves.

Dr Tan Eng Liang: Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the match-making role actually is being performed by the HDB. If the lonely old man seeks another old man, he can approach the Area Office and ask them whether or not there is any other old man interested in sharing a flat with him. This is actually being done all the time. I have promised the Leader of the House that I will finish my reply in half' an hour, and I think I can.

The Member for Aljunied asked a question on the preservation of old buildings. I think this is an important observation. The Government is fully aware of the need to retain buildings of a historical value and architectural merit to serve as a reminder of our history and cultural heritage. Arising from this, a Preservation of Monuments Board was established in 1971 to preserve monuments of historic, traditional, archaelogical, architectural or artistic interests. The primary task of the Board is to recommend to the Minister for National Development the monuments to be preserved and placed under the protection of the Board. Members of the Board come from a very wide spectrum of our society and include representatives from the architecture and planning disciplines, development agencies, cultural and religious organisations and the business community. Since its creation the Minister has, on the recommendation of the Preservation of Monuments Board, gazetted eight buildings, among which are mosques, temples, churches and a medical institution for preservation. The Board is now looking into the preservation of entire street blocks, including some buildings in Chinatown.

The Member for Changi has brought up another point on the Primary Production Department's ability to teach hydroponics for growing vegetables. This is not a new comment, The House was informed of the PPD's efforts to publicise the method of growing vegetables at its last sitting in November, 1976, just before the Member was elected. Anyway, may I sum it up by saying that the results of the experiments conducted by the PPD on hydroponics have been widely publicised over the last two years by the press, RTS and in publications such as the PPD Bulletin and the Singapore Journal of Primary Industries. On top of that, there is an Agriculture Handbook which is being sold to farmers and members of the public at $2.50 per copy. The handbook gives a full account of the setting up of the commercial hydroponics farm. But if the Member's constituents are interested, the Department will be prepared to organise classes on hydroponics method of growing vegetables.

A few Members brought up the question of the Urban and Rural Services Committee. Both the Members for Bukit Panjang and Nee Soon complained about the inadequacy of the fund of the URSC and suggested that more money should be spent on the rural sectors. Perhaps I could merely quote that out of the 1975/76 budget provision of $3,351,920, $2,351,920 have been spent on the rural areas. This amounts to 70% of the budget for URSC.

The Member for Nee Soon suggested that perhaps bigger projects, such as roads costing over $100,000, be carried out by PWD. If there is a necessity to build such sizable rural roads in the future, the PWD could look into it provided approval of funds could be obtained from the Ministry of Finance. If more such rural projects need to be done and can be justified, perhaps a more practical approach would be to request the Ministry of Finance to allocate a bigger fund for the URSC. These proposals can be forwarded to the Ministry of Finance for consideration.

The Member for Punggol brought up the question of farm roads in Punggol. Here again, the main purpose of the farm roads in Punggol is obviously to provide a reasonable access to the farm holdings. These are not meant to serve as trunk roads. Although they are similar to the standard rural road, they are, in fact, five feet wider. Unlike other laterite roads, these farm roads have been reinforced with granite crusher run at additional cost. The total length of the farm roads in Punggol farm estates is about 21,730 metres. Of course, it will be ideal if all these roads could be metalled but obviously the cost will be extremely high. Because of the limited funds and other claims and priority projects, it will be difficult to metal and upgrade these roads all the time, but perhaps progressively we can consider them. and I think my earlier answer that perhaps getting more funds for URSC is the answer.

Lastly, there were comments from the Members for Aljunied and Nee Soon on sympathetic or proper consideration of usage of acquired property after acquisition. The acquisition of land is, of course, a serious matter as it affects the livelihood of people who are dislocated and required to resettle elsewhere For this reason much care is taken to ensure that land is acquired only for redevelopment purposes. The exceptions are cases where the lots remaining after acquisition are too small or isolated and are not suitable for independent development. In that case it will be better to acquire them for a harmonious integration with their surroundings. Of course, despite these precautions it sometimes happen that due to unforeseen circumstances or change in Government policy the envisaged development cannot take place Fortunately, such cases are rare. Government departments and statutory boards engaged in land acquisition and development have the duty to ensure that their acquisitions are planned with great consideration in order to prevent such cases from occurring.

The Member for Nee Soon brought up the question of widening of Sembawang Road Actually I have already given him a verbal reply just now - that it is actually for a three-lane dual-carriageway and that although the existing shops are not affected there are drains to be constructed on the side of the three-lane carriageway and that the drain and the road reserve would take up something like 20 feet out of 60 feet of the shop-houses. So although it is not immediately knocked down, it will be taken over by Government for such development

Mr Teong Eng Siong (Sembawang): (In Mandarin): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Senior Minister of State has not answered two other questions that I have raised

Dr Tan Eng Liang: I have not forgotten to answer the hon. Member for Sembawang. It is not because I have not got the answer but I thought it is not important enough to answer them. Anyway, let me reply to his questions in one minute. The matter of Tanjong Irau in Sembawang area that he referred to, unfortunately does not come under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of National Development. It comes under JTC So, would the Member please refer the matter to JTC?

As to the second question about the abolition of the increase of rent from $10 to $18 for Hua Kwang School in his constituency, the primary school was acquired from the owner, with vacant possession, at a higher compensation. If the owner stays on in the premises he has to pay the rental based on the standard annual rate of 5% of the compensation. This revision in rental only applies to the owners whose properties are acquired with vacant possession. On the other hand, if the property is acquired on an encumbered basis, then there is no increase in the rent.

6.30 p.m.

The Minister of State for Labour (Mr Sia Kah Hui): Mr Deputy Speaker. Sir, in associating myself with all my colleagues in thanking our President for his Speech on behalf of the Government. I would like to take this opportunity to say a few words on some labour matters raised by hon. Members.

The Members for Kallang and Telok Blangah have suggested that permanent residents should be allowed to be employed without having to apply for work permits. There are a number of reasons why the Ministry of Labour continues to require permanent residents to apply for work permits. Firstly, under the Regulation of Employment Act, all non-citizen employees and contract workers earning a monthly salary of not more than $750 are required to apply for work permits. Secondly, it is felt that from the manpower planning point of view, it is necessary for us to know the number as well as the deployment of permanent residents in the economy.

I must assure hon. Members that usually permanent residents do not face difficulties when applying for work permit for their employment, The Ministry of Labour adopts a very liberal policy when it comes to issuing work permits to them. Furthermore, work permits issued to permanent residents are for two years instead of the usual one year. Hon. Members would recall also that in 1973 the Ministry of Labour made a public announcement that permanent residents who pass the appropriate skill test or who possess acceptable training qualifications will be eligible for citizenship if they satisfy the ten-year residential qualification. Holders of Singapore blue identity cards who are unskilled should therefore strive to upgrade their skill so that they can qualify for citizenship under this scheme.

The hon. Member for Kallang has urged that serious attempts be made to find a solution to job seekers who are past retirement age. He has further suggested that certain light jobs in the public and private sectors be reserved for those who are old but healthy enough to work.

Mr Ahmad Haleem (Telok Blangah): Sir, on a point of clarification. In my speech. I mentioned about permanent residents who are stateless persons, and not all permanent residents.

Mr Sia Kah Hui: Sir, it makes no difference even if he is stateless. He is not a Singapore citizen and, therefore, according to the present law, a work permit is required of him.

From CPF records, in the year 1974 there were 9,664 persons who reached the age of 55; in 1975 there were 12,820 persons and in 1976 there were 11,180 persons. Yet on the Labour Ministry's Employment Service live register, there are only 480 such people who are actively seeking employment, the majority of whom are unskilled. Out of these 480 persons, 430 are males. Apparently, older female workers are either staying with their families usefully engaged in helping their children in household duties or they have no difficulties in getting jobs. These figures suggest that quite a number of these older workers either do not want employment or do not need assistance in securing work.

At present in both the private and public sectors, persons above the age of 55 years can continue gainful employment. In the public sector, although 55 years is the optional retirement age, those who are in good health and choose to continue employment, can do so up to the age of 60 years. Similarly in the private sector, collective agreements do provide for employment up to the age of 60 years.

The situation does not therefore warrant the introduction of a scheme of reservation of jobs for those who are old but healthy.

The hon. Member for Potong Pasir has proposed a job quota scheme for the employment of handicapped or disabled persons. Government, together with the voluntary agencies, have been actively promoting the employment of employable handicapped persons. In the job placement efforts, both the Employment Service of the Labour Ministry and the Rehabilitation Unit of the Social Welfare Department work in close cooperation with the voluntary bodies. Within the public sector, preference has already been given to the employment of handicapped persons in certain suitable light jobs such as caretaker, lift attendant, office attendant, telephone operator, tailor, typist and such like. In the private sector, the number of firms and factories willing to employ handicapped persons is increasing. A high percentage of disabled persons is being employed. Of the 4,603 handicapped persons in the working age group of 15-44 years, 1,285 are currently in gainful employment. 415 are either attending schools or undergoing vocational training geared to subsequent employment. Of the remaining 2,903, 477 are incapable of productive work, that is, they are unemployed because of severe disablement, 722 are not prepared to seek work and only a small number of 125 handicapped persons are actively seeking work and are awaiting job placement. The present arrangement of Government departments and voluntary agencies working together to assist the handicapped persons in securing employment is adequate. There is, therefore, no need for a special job quota scheme for the employment of handicapped or disabled persons at this moment of time.

6.38 p.m.

The Minister for Culture and Science and Technology (Mr Jek Yeun Thong): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in his policy speech, the President has timely reminded us that we must not seek to ape the life-styles and norms of permissive Western societies We must, instead, preserve our time-honoured cultural norms. values and institutions which have enabled us to withstand the onslaught of the more pernicious elements in the western culture. Of course, not all aspects of the Western culture are bad. Some are good ones and we have benefited from them and we intend to keep them even though they are alien to our society. Much of the undesirable part of the western culture is transmitted to us through the media.

In both developed and developing societies, the importance of the printed word cannot be over-emphasized. Although TV can stir up thinking more quickly, it is a passing vision - it is seen, and is gone. So is sound broadcasting - it is heard and gone. However, a newspaper exerts a more lasting impact. It can be kept and re-read later on. Often its pass-on circulation is such that its impact is understated by its "official" circulation figures. Consequently, the newspaper is a powerful instrument of public education.

The news media has acquired and wielded enormous power within the last two decades. In some countries, its power sometimes exceeds that of the legislature, the judiciary and the executive, through its influence on public opinion. Its enormous power can be harnessed for the benefit of society. It could also be manipulated to tear the society apart.

Government in democratic countries are elected every four or five years, and they must therefore be responsive to the societies they serve. This is not so with the press as it is accountable only to its owners. In large societies, it may be possible for newspapers with conflicting views and values to balance each other out, so that no single newspaper can unduly influence public opinion. Even in these countries, it is socially and politically undesirable for newspapers to be owned and controlled by one man, or one family, as this would make it difficult for the press to be independent and impartial. In small countries where the economy or population can only sustain two or three major newspapers, the capacity of these newspapers to manipulate public opinion would be far greater

Hon. Members will recall what happened to the Singapore Herald and the Eastern Sun. No long ago. efforts were made by certain foreign interests through their local proxies to soften up the ground for their own insidious purposes, namely, to gain footholds in our society. Fortunately, their plots were nipped in the bud.

In Singapore, legislation exists to ensure that newspapers do not function as mouthpieces of outside interests to propagate alien philosophies and viewpoints The Newspaper and Printing Presses Act. 1974, is to ensure that public interests are safe-guarded by requiring that newspapers become public companies with Singapore citizens as directors. It is not intended to interfere with newspapers as an economic activity.

Since the Act came into force on 1st January, 1975, the danger of local newspapers falling into the hands of foreign interests has been lessened. Nevertheless, the situation is still far from satisfactory, as the ownership of major newspapers remains with a small group of people In a small country like Singapore, it is undesirable to allow any person or family to have a monopolistic control of any major newspaper. In view of the great influence the newspaper has on every individual's life as well as national issues. it would be safer for their ownership to be spread as widely as possible. It is equally important to have a balanced representation in the management of newspapers.

In, order to break the monopolistic control of major newspapers in Singapore by a small group of people, the Government is considering an amendment to the Newspaper and Printing Presses Act, 1974, to prohibit any person from holding either directly or indirectly through a nominee or a holding company or in other manner more than 3% of the stock of a newspaper, without the special permission of the licensing authority of the newspaper. Persons holding shares in excess of the permitted limit will have to dispose of them through the Stock Exchange.

The proposed measures are not intended to be confiscatory We do not seek more control than we have now. We only seek to spread the ownership so that it reaches the small people and more people will have a say in the ownership of the newspaper. These measures are necessitated by the need to ensure that the newspapers are not merely solvent in the accounting balance sheet but also an asset in the balance sheet of national well-being

I think at this juncture it would be helpful if I were to begin my reply to the hon. Member for Kampong Chai Chee and the hon. Member for Katong with the anthropological definition of "culture" to ensure that we are talking about the same thing. Culture as so defined is the sum total of the achievement and activities of any specific period, race, or people which include, inter alia, socioeconomic institutions, music, art, religious beliefs. traditions and language

Singapore has inherited from the migrants who came to settle here from China, India and the Malaysian archipelago their ancient cultures. To these has been added the culture derived from western civilization. Singapore was a British colony for over a hundred years and we have inherited from the British their system of law and the Parliamentary system of Government.

We feel that with such a sensitive issue as culture, the best way would be to let these inherited cultures develop within the Singapore context. While establishing cultural links with the past, we should not forget that we are Singaporeans. Thus, we have to build a cohesive, unified nation out of the disparate ethnic groups.

The evolution of a national cultural identity is. therefore, part of the process of nation building. It is a task which has been put into motion some 20 years ago through our education system, our national service programme, our community centres and, not least of all, through the activities of the Ministry of Culture The evolution of a Singapore cultural identity is a long and time-consuming process. Its form cannot be laid down in advance because culture cannot be subject to direction in the same way as economic development It can only be nurtured and encouraged in an atmosphere of freedom to experiment, choose, reject, or adapt the various elements and forms that go to make up the whole.

A few Members in this House have expressed concern over the young with their high expectations, their preference for soft jobs, and their acceptance of Singapore's prosperity as a norm and something which can be taken for granted. They have not experienced the hardships and sacrifices of their forebears. If we accept that culture in its widest sense means a way of life rather than merely confining it to the practice and appreciation of the fine arts, there are certain cultural norms and values common to all the three major streams of Asian civilisations represented in our plural society The moral precepts, patriotism, filial piety and traditional values such as industry and thrift are still relevant to our society. These are the values our young must acquire. and these values can only be acquired by learning and appreciating our cultural heritage At the same time, we must not overlook the fact that we are Singaporeans Only when we realise this, are we then able to provide the cultural ballast for our young through the evolution of a distinctive Singapore cultural identity based on the finest elements in our own cultures.

Since Singapore is heir to four great cultural civilisations, it is thus given a rare and valuable opportunity to learn and absorb the best in all these. To deny or shut out any one of them would be to impoverish and endanger our rich heritage and narrow our range of aesthetic sensibility and experience. We must be honest enough to acknowledge that not all our traditional values and norms are desirable. We must, therefore, aim to achieve a balance between what is valuable and relevant in tradition and what is required in a modern industrial society.

An admirable element of western culture is the spirit of scientific enquiry, of seeking to understand the laws of the universe, which has led to the technological advances of the West. We must learn to adapt to the imperatives of an industrial society without losing our cultural values. At the same time, we have to reject life styles and values of the West that are alien and pernicious to our Singapore society. We must not allow permissiveness, communal living, hippieism, drug taking, abhorrence for hard work and urban violence to permeate our society. To allow these undesirable elements of Western life styles into our society is to invite ruin and disaster for ourselves.

Cultural "ballast" implies a firm and sound rooting in traditional cultures, but since our society is largely of migrant origin, these traditions have been inevitably weakened with time and distance. We should select and retain those cultural elements that have a broader appeal to all This would ensure that the young will not adopt those values and norms which are incompatible with our national aspirations. The awareness of our cultural past together with the forging of a distinctive Singapore identity will help provide our young with the necessary ballast against the inroads of undesirable western influence Without the Singapore cultural identity, our people especially the young are like a rudderless ship drifting with the wind

But then we must not follow traditions blindly It is true that traditions and customs form part of the culture of a people. There are good customs and there are bad ones Our duty is to try to preserve and promote the good ones while at the same time keep down or do away with the bad ones. However, old customs and traditions die hard and the task to educate the people and change their way of thinking is quite difficult. It may take years or generations to change. But change we must. In this world of rapid changes it is necessary that we should adopt the policy of P'or chiu Iih hsin (destroying the old and establishing the new order). But in doing so, we should be careful not to open ourselves to accusations that we are ignorant of the good old customs, or worse still, we are trying to destroy the culture of a people. Full explanation must be given and the issue should be thrashed out thoroughly before any action is taken. The people must be made to understand why certain actions have to be taken even though some of them may not be happy with those actions.

The way we handled cracker firing is a typical example. Cracker firing is a wasteful custom. Whatever merit it may have in an old agricultural society, in the Singapore environment where more and more people are living in high-rise buildings, it has become really dangerous. It has got to go. But before imposing a total ban we must give patient and exhaustive explanation. The Chinese philosophy on government is that when one governs one seldom speaks. Wei ch'erng pu tsai tuo yen. That was an old authoritarian way of government. But in our situation where we marry oriental society with western democracy, we must not only govern effectively, we must also explain convincingly. Therefore, we have suggested that instead of firing crackers everywhere and disturbing everyone, it should be allowed in controlled areas, in designated places near community centres, where the chances of people getting hurt are less. We have tried every means to dissuade the people from this age-old custom. We have even run films on cracker firing on TV, in the hope that the people will be satisfied with watching cracker firing and hearing its noise on TV. All the while, we knew for certain that nothing short of a total ban would solve the problem. And we also knew for sure that, to those diehards, no matter what we do they will not be satisfied. But then they knew that we have tried very hard to accommodate their wishes. In the end when the total ban came, no one could accuse us of being an unresponsive and an uncaring Government. And, therefore, we can have quieter sleep on Chinese New Year's eve not only because there is less noise but also because we know for certain that no one can make this into an explosive issue.

Sir, had we taken the advice of the Member for Kampong Chai Chee and imposed a total ban right from the beginning without any experimentation or explanation, we would have plunged headlong into a crisis. The diehards would be angry, the common people would be confused and the Communists and the anti-social elements would agitate. And yet we are being accused of being ignorant of our culture and lack of understanding. Sir, it is precisely because we know too much and understand too much about our own culture and respect our own culture that we have to resort to this so-called "half-way house" measure in order to solve this delicate problem which involves a deep-rooted custom of the people. There is nothing wrong in it. Democracy itself is a system which is constantly devising a series of "half-way house" measures to solve the delicate problems of society. When it comes to problems involving culture. language and custom, they must be handled with tolerance, patience and understanding. Sir, these are the finer points in the art of government and if the Member for Kampong Chai Chee aspires to step into our shoes he must learn them, and learn them fast.

I would like to assure the Member for Kampong Chai Chee that there is no such thing as the cancelling out game between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture. We supplement each other. The only cause for him to make the allegation is that he saw a few commercial advertisements on TV not to his liking. But then everyone knows that TV commercials do not represent Government policy. My Ministry's Addendum explicitly gave the priorities of our radio and television services, namely, to inform, educate and entertain. Educational and information programmes acquired overseas and produced locally comprise 25%, the largest category of TV output. This compares with 23% for programmes which can be categorised as drama. and 9% for programmes which can be classified as music or musical variety. This percentage of educational and information programmes is among the highest in this region for the public broadcasting service.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Order. It is 7.00 p.m. now. We will continue tomorrow.