MAIN AND DEVELOPMENT ESTIMATES OF SINGAPORE FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 1ST APRIL, 1977 TO 31ST MARCH, 1978

Order read for consideration in Committee of Supply [4th Allotted Day]

2.45 p.m.

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Head U - (cont.)

Mr J. F. Conceicao (Katong): Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head U be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead CBA 1101.

I would just like to reflect a problem which has repeatedly been brought to my attention by my constituents. The drainage in the Tanjong Katong/Mountbatten Road as well as Poole Road, Parkstone Road, Goodman Road area is poor. This area is a well developed area with schools and residential dwellings and yet it is not uncommon to find the roadside drains full of stagnant water. This situation is worse when there is heavy rain. The roadside drains overflow and flood the adjacent roads and houses. Is it not possible for the experts in the Ministry to improve drainage and alleviate the flooding in this area?

The Minister for Law and the Environment (Mr E. W. Barker): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member is well aware that the area referred to is a low-lying area. In fact. Mountbatten Road was formerly known as Grove Road. Grove Road and the area referred to formed part of the Grove Estate. I do not know where the word "Grove" came from, probably from "mangrove". The Member should also be well aware that one-quarter of Singapore island is swampy. Hence the many reclamations which have taken place; the outstanding one being Jurong which was previously one big large swamp.

As the Member has pointed out, the area he referred to is very well developed. In fact, the floods are controlled by tidal gates at the Geylang River. But that is all we can do. My experts tell me that they can suggest nothing except that the land be raised. If the land is raised the buildings must go up too. So I am afraid it must be just one big "NO". But the Member is not alone in his complaint because there are other parts of Singapore, like parts of Chinatown for instance, which are below high tide level and without any rain parts of Chinatown can come under water. So that is all I can say to the Member. My sympathies, but that is it.

Mr Conceicao: Sir, I suppose I shall have to do with the Minister's sympathy. With that I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting -

(7) That the sum to be allocated for Head U be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead BGA 8401.

The Chairman: Amendment (7), Mr Ng Kah Ting is not here.

The sum of $86,332,930 for Head U ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates.

The sum of $158,225,000 for Head U ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

Head V -

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

That the sum to be allocated for Head V be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead AAA 1004*. (*The same amendment also stood in the name of Dr Ong Leong Boon).

The Minister for Home Affairs is entrusted with the responsibility of internal security and law and order. The Internal Security Department comes under his Ministry and therefore it has the duty and responsibility to check on any dangerous elements in our midst. During the last few months the ISD has been doing an excellent job in actively tracking down and exposing many communists and anti-national elements in our midst. Its performance is indeed commendable. It appears there are a number of dangerous people living in our midst, whom the ISD has already detected and exposed. I would like to suggest that the ISD be expanded so that there could be a thorough check of all Government departments, schools and tertiary institutions, because at the moment we do not seem to know who is who.

Sir, turning to the subject of drugs. Many Members have already spoken about the drug problem the trafficking and consumption of drugs in Singapore during the last decade. Yesterday a man died because of drug addiction. Even our laws too have been revised and the death penalty has been introduced for drug offences. Though the death penalty has been introduced, yet we do not see any appreciable decline in the trafficking of drugs. We have already heard that about 10 persons have been sentenced to death and about 30 others are still awaiting trial. I wonder what the authorities are doing to further stamp this menace of drug trafficking.

One way to solve the prevalent drug problem is to stringently control the entry and departure of foreigners. At present, foreigners can easily stay behind after the stipulated time and escape detection. Why not introduce entry control cards which could be used to detect anyone overstaying his visit? Perhaps peddlers and drug dealers could be dealt a severe blow if the entry of foreigners was controlled.

Sir, as for drug abusers, what action is being taken against them and what rehabilitation is being given to them? I understand that many young boys and girls who indulge in drugs are not being properly rehabilitated in the detention camps.

Quite often, after their release they commit the same offence and have to go back again for rehabilitation. There seems to be no proper rehabilitation of these young drug addicts to give up the habit of taking drugs. Why is this so?

Could the Minister comment on this matter?

The Chairman: Dr Ong is not speaking. Mr Chua.

The Minister for Home Affairs and Education (Mr Chua Sian Chin): Mr Speaker, Sir, in reply to the Member for Anson, let me first take his comments on the ISD. First, the Member has commended the ISD for having done a good job in the last few months in tracking down and exposing communists and anti-national elements. I wish to thank him for his word of appreciation. I am sure the ISD officers concerned who had worked very hard would be very much encouraged, particularly when it is not very often that the Member for Anson gives bouquets in a debate in the Committee of Supply.

However, Mr Speaker, Sir, to his suggestion that the ISD should be expanded to thoroughly check all Government departments, schools and tertiary institutions because "at the moment we do not know who is who", I would like to point out the difference between just identifying a person and identifying a communist or anti-national element in our midst. The Police or the ISD has little difficulty in identifying persons through identity cards, passports, finger prints, etc. However, identifying a person who is a communist or an anti-national element is quite a different matter. Firstly, these elements do not operate openly but in a clandestine manner. They go about their subversive activities by hiding their real intentions and objectives. When confronted, they will not voluntarily own up their involvement unless the ISD knows of their involvement and is able to confront them with evidence. Secondly, the ISD would require a very large pool of manpower to keep a watch on each and everyone in Government departments, schools or tertiary institutions in order to identify who are communists and anti-national elements and who are not.

Sir, it will not be cost-effective and in most cases the checking will be a waste of effort and might even result in undue inconvenience and embarrassment. This, of course, is not desirable. The ISD has been able to identify communists and anti-national elements in these organisations through its intelligence work. Intelligence is also gathered largely from painstaking investigation and interrogation of detainees. For this work I agree that the ISD need more staff. In fact, the department is still in the midst of correspondence with the Ministry of Finance to get more staff.

Sir, with regard to the other points on drug consumption and rehabilitation, I shall reply to them when the various subheads pertaining to the Central Narcotics Bureau are raised for discussion.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: Sir, the reason why I praised the ISD is because I hope the officers will work hard. A drop of ink in a bucket of milk can spoil the whole milk. Therefore, the ISD should check each and every department. I repeat: a drop of ink can spoil a whole bucket of milk.

The Chairman: Mr Govindaswamy, is that a Tamil saying?

Mr P. Govindaswamy: No, Sir, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Phey Yew Kok -

(2) That the sum to be allocated for Head V be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead AAA 1101.

The Chairman: Mr Phey, amendment (2).

Mr Phey Yew Kok (Boon Teck): I am not moving, Sir.

The Chairman: Amendment (3), Mr Conceicao.

3.00 p.m.

Mr Conceicao: Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head V be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead BAA 1101*. (* The same amendment also stood in the names of Messrs Teong Eng Siong and P. Govindaswamy.)

I am speaking on this subhead, Sir, because the activity I am going to talk about was started on the basis of a proposal from Police Headquarters and is being monitored by Police Headquarters.

I would like to refer to a joint Police NS/Special Constabulary project named Libra Project which is being conducted in a number of housing estates, including Kampong Arang /Jalan Batu which is in my constituency.

It appears that this Libra Project has two principal aims: youth work and counselling as well as formation of neighbourhood committees, to foster greater neighbourliness. Sir, I think this project is experimenting with a praiseworthy attempt at giving NS Police and S.C. members a chance of participating in national service directed towards creative, good, praiseworthy social ends. I have followed the experiment with some interest, noticing the change of direction of emphasis caused by experience of the real situation on the ground led by those working in this Libra Project. I think the project deserves encouragement and help to make this police aim of service to youth achievable, hence contributing to good police/public relations. The project is still relatively embryonic in relation to what it could achieve.

I would like to make one suggestion, however, which I hope will help the project avoid an unnecessary pitfall. This is in connection with the project's efforts at forming neighbourhood committees. May I suggest that such committees be formed through the CCC as sub-committees of the CCC and that good liaison be maintained with the Member of Parliament of the constituency concerned. This could well result in a pooling of resources and in such collaboration that would help further in the project's aim, because the proliferation of committees in housing estates, constituencies, may well add to the confusion of aims.

Mr Teong Eng Siong (Sembawang): (In Mandarin): Sir, in recent years after a restructuring of the Police Force, there has been an improvement in the administration of the Police Force, resulting in greater peace and order in our society. However, there are still some shortcomings with the Police Force. According to complaints I have received, some people had occasion to make a report at a police station, but the policemen were not prepared to take their report saying that the Inspector in charge was not in. So they had to wait until his return. After about four hours of waiting, the Inspector in charge of the station did not return. So the complainants had wasted their time. I then enquired of the Police Department whether it was necessary to report only to an Inspector or a station head. The reply was, "No. Any ordinary police officer on duty can take down a complaint." This shows the policemen at the police station quoted above had not performed their duty properly.

I have also received complaints that certain traffic policemen have abused their power by booking drivers at random. There is a mobile squad in the Traffic Police that specially deals with this. Sir, if they take measures to deal with speeding motorcyclists it is all right, but it is not right to flag down any driver who has not been speeding. Also, there have been complaints that some mobile squad personnel themselves have been speeding on the road, recklessly and dangerously. Their performance could well beat any racing motorcyclist. This is what they should not do because they are endangering other road users. So the authorities concerned should look into this matter. Police officers are people who enforce the law. So they themselves should not infringe any law.

Generally speaking, the Police Force in our Republic has performed well with a high degree of efficiency. Their duty is to protect lives and property of our people. In order to increase the efficiency of our police and to promote better cooperation between the police and members of the public, I have several suggestions to make.

In the past few years the police has been organising Police Weeks every year. The response has been good. It improves the relationship between the police and the public. Since it is good and useful, I would like to ask the Minister whether Police Weeks will continue to be organised. Personally, I think it should be held so as to build up a better relationship between the police and the people. Besides achieving better cooperation between the police and the people, I would like to ask the Minister whether the Police could organise an "Open House Day" for members of the public to visit police establishments. This can be done also through community centres and other public centres because during "Open House Day" members of the public will learn how to liaise with the police in the event of a crime or accident. In this way the people can understand the work of the police better and on the other hand it will promote cooperation between the people and the police. This is a good objective. In order to achieve it concrete steps must be taken. Senior police officers themselves should set a good example in promoting this cooperation. I feel that every policeman of the rank of Inspector and above should frequently take part in social and community activities. For instance, they should take part in activities conducted by community centres in the various constituencies. The police officer in charge of the constituency should be present. This will promote a better understanding of the relationship between the police and the public, thereby removing any bias that exists between them. There is a feeling that the police are "unapproachable ones". Therefore, with greater cooperation and understanding between the police and the people, members of the public would dare to make reports to the police if anything happens.

Secondly, I would like to ask the Minister whether he would set up in every police district a public complaints bureau at a convenient place to facilitate complaints from the public, because ordinary people are not used to complain or to report any case to the police, particularly when there are police officers who are haughty and arrogant. So the people dare not go and report to a police station. The officer in charge in the complaints bureau should be bilingual or even multi-lingual in order to facilitate an understanding of the complaint.

Thirdly, I would like to ask the Minister whether he will consider increasing the number of police patrol cars in order to increase efficiency. At the moment I feel that the number of patrol cars is not sufficient. Not so long ago at my meet-the-people session a voter complained to me that somebody threw stones at his house. I telephoned for a police patrol car but it turned up only half an hour later. I asked him why he took such a long time to come. He said. "I am sorry, but we are short of patrol cars." So I appeal to the Minister to increase the number of patrol cars, as it will not only meet the need to maintain law and order but also increase the efficiency of the police.

The fourth point is the white cross-lines drawn by the side of many roads. Recently somebody complained to me that because he was not familiar with the meaning of the white cross-lines on the road, he ran into them and was fined $50. According to the Police authority's explanation to him, such white cross-lines on the road mean that they represent stones. If one runs over the white cross-lines it means that one is knocking against the stone. So it is a traffic offence and the driver will be fined. This is really funny. I do not quite understand the use of this road sign at all. Some people commented that perhaps this is because the traffic police want more revenue that they induce drivers to run over such lines drawn on narrow roads. During peak hours when traffic is very heavy people would inevitably run over the white cross-lines. So the traffic policemen standing by the road side would take down the car numbers and fine the motorists. I would like the Minister to look into the matter. What are these white lines drawn on the road for? They had better be abolished as they serve no useful purpose.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: Mr Speaker, Sir, the resiting of police stations in modern structural buildings near housing estates is a wise move. I wonder whether any consideration has been given to locating the new sites. Most of the old police stations were located at street junctions, and there must be a reason for this. It could be for a greater public awareness of a police station and also for easy access. But the present new sites do not appear to be located at street junctions, and when the old police stations are removed there seems to be a vacuum in that area.

The Kandang Kerbau Police Station is a hundred years old but recently it has been removed to Toa Payoh. Why not use the old station as a sub-station, because the nearest police station at the moment for the people living around there seems to be far away? The vacuum is already felt by the people living in that locality.

Sir, I understand the CID is also going to be rehoused. I am sure that this resiting will leave a vacuum in that area. The CID building has been in the Central Business District where much activity is going on, and the people are also aware that its presence provides some sort of police protection around, especially by the various offices in town. But now, when the CID moves out, the vacuum would be greatly felt. Instead of rehousing it, why not renovate the building and continue with its operations from there?

Sir, the introduction of the Police national service is remarkable. About 9,000 part-time national servicemen are now serving in the Force. With this increased manpower in the Force, does it have sufficient equipment and vehicles to support their operation? I understand the Force is short of such facilities. What is the Ministry going to do about this?

3.15 p.m.

Sir, do the police offices in the stations have enough telephones? At times in cases of emergency it is extremely difficult to contact certain officers in the stations simply because there are insufficient telephones.

Sir, in the last few years the rate of armed robbery has gone down considerably. In 1971 the figure was 1,124 and at the end of last year it was less than 500. This is because of the performance of the section which deals with the combating of such crimes. The section concerned must be congratulated for the good work and I hope that it will continue with the good performance.

Sir, lately commercial crime has become one of the commonest forms of crime in Singapore. Though Singapore is a commercial centre there are many criminal opportunists lurking around and they are all waiting to make a fast buck. In fact, some foreigners have even joined in the game. The Slater Walker trial is a good example of this. Is it because they feel that commercial crime does pay here, or is it because the punishment is not severe enough? I think most probably the Minister for Home Affairs knows that there is a big gang operating in the bank. The bank is a big one. Or is it because the Commercial Branch does not have enough suitably qualified persons to help in the detection of this form of crime? If so, what is being done to remedy the situation?

An increasing number of countries in the West use computers to aid them in police work. Do the police here also have these facilities to help them detect criminals quickly?

Sir, in the past we have been talking so much about people sporting long and unkempt hair. It appears that many people nowadays are still sporting long hair and yet no action has been taken. I wonder whether this policy is still in existence or is it being relaxed. I think most probably it is relaxed because everybody is sporting long hair now.

Finally, Sir, are the traffic lights synchronised at street junctions? Although some traffic lights are very close together, they operate independently and sometimes cause more confusion than help in the traffic flow. The traffic lights at Keppel Road, Cantonment Road, Tanjong Pagar Road and Anson Road junction are typical examples.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, let me answer the last speaker first, the Member for Anson. He has given another bouquet to a certain section of the Police Force about combating crime. I hope he is not throwing a drop of ink into a bucket of milk! He asked whether when rebuilding old police stations and relocating them in Housing Board estates we have given consideration to the various factors and what are they.

Let me explain, first of all, that for policing purposes Singapore is divided into eight land divisions. Each Division is served by a headquarters station and when necessary supported by sub-stations and police posts. The siting of these old police stations that were built during the colonial era was done in the then centres or concentrations of population, that is, along arterial highways. Since then, Sir, there has been tremendous redevelopment and urban renewal in the Republic, resulting in massive shifts of population. Thus, the majority of the existing Divisional headquarters stations are not only old and need to be rebuilt but are also no longer strategically situated to be maximally effective operationally. As revealed in the Addendum to the Presidential Address, these will be resited within the next five years. The divisional boundaries of the police divisions will also be re-demarcated. The recent' relocation of the Kandang Kerbau Police Station to Toa Payoh Town and the proposed resiting of the other Divisional headquarters stations are done to achieve the following objectives:

(1) to provide at the doorstep of large Housing Board estates police service and other amenities within the wider meaning of community service;

(2) to provide speedy response to public calls and prompt investigation;

(3) to prevent criminal activities through police presence;

(4) to provide a psychological boost to residents that police assistance/protection are readily available;

(5) to provide a base for strengthening police and public cooperation.

On the specific question as to whether we have plans to establish a police post or substation at the old Kandang Kerbau Police Station site, we have none because the present site is required for urban renewal. Police coverage of the Kandang Kerbau area is being adequately undertaken by radio cars and team policing patrol cars.

With regard to the removal of the CID building from the present site, I do not know where the Member for Anson got his news because as far as -

Mr P. Govindaswamy: ISD has already moved out.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: That is ISD, and not CID. As far as CID is concerned, there is no immediate plan to rehouse it elsewhere. In fact, plans have been drawn up to renovate the building and to improve the accommodation so that the part which the ISD has vacated will be occupied by the CID. I do not know whether it is in the Anson constituency but anyway the Member can rest assured that the CID will be there for quite some time.

With regard to the Police national servicemen - the part-time SCs and VCs -we have at the moment over 7,000 SCs and over 7,500 VCs attached to the various police divisions. They are doing good work in doing patrols to prevent crime in the various divisions.

With regard to equipment - walkie-talkies and patrol cars - these 7,000 SCs and 7,500 VCs are using about 772 walkie-talkie sets. However, I agree that owing to this increased number of foot patrols there is at the moment a shortage of these sets and as a result funds are now being sought from the Ministry of Finance to buy additional sets.

With regard to the police telephone exchange, the Police Force have got a PABX Exchange. At the moment, it has 40 exchange lines which service the whole Police Force. Each of the eight land divisions have three exchange lines and three direct lines. During peak periods these lines are insufficient to cope with demands and, therefore, it would be extremely difficult at such times to contact certain officers in police stations. However, when the Home Affairs Ministry headquarters shifts to Phoenix Park in the latter part of this year, its existing PABX will be taken over by the police. As a result, the police exchange will then have 53 exchange lines which would help ease the congestion during peak hours and emergencies.

The Member for Anson has spoken about unscrupulous financial operators manipulating in banks. I do not know whether he has any direct evidence. If he has, I would like to have any details from him and we would investigate. But as far as we are concerned, these unscrupulous persons are found in every country where they feel there is a fast buck to be made. Particularly in Singapore when it is growing as a financial centre, it is inevitable that these unscrupulous operators will attempt to make quick profit at the expense of Singaporeans. We are aware of this and plans are being made to strengthen the Commercial Branch of the Police. It is now a division of the CID headed by a Superintendent and staffed with professionals, such as lawyers and qualified accountants. There are plans to strengthen this further to meet the threat posed by white-collar criminals, and this has been set out in the Addendum on the Ministry of Home Affairs. However, the situation is continuously being monitored and the Government will not hesitate to enhance penalties should this become necessary.

With regard to computers, at the moment the police criminal records are already on computer. These computerised records are useful aids to police investigation and men on the ground are now able to screen suspects in a matter of minutes without having to take the suspects to the Criminal Records Office.

With regard to Government's policy against males sporting long hair, it still stands. We have not forgotten about it. This policy is strictly enforced in all Government departments and disciplinary action is taken against Government officers sporting long hair. In keeping with Government's policy, members of the public sporting long hair having business with Government departments are dealt with last. Suspects and accused persons in police custody are advised not to sport long hair.

With regard to traffic lights, of all the 235 traffic lights in Singapore, 60 are in the City district and they are synchronised to give a simple green wave system. For example, the traffic lights at Bras Basah Road, Orchard Road, Stamford Road and Robinson Road are synchronised and the traffic lights at Cantonment Road, Keppel Road junction and Tanjong Pagar junction are also synchronised. However, the traffic lights at Keppel Road/Anson Road junction will be synchronised this year with the completion of the extension of Shenton Way from Palmer Road to Anson Road. I hope that will satisfy the Member for Anson.

3.30 p.m.

Let me turn to the Member for Sembawang. The Member spoke about police/public relationship and the good response the public had given to the Police Week programmes and he asked whether they will continue. For his information, the Police Week programmes will continue and, in fact, this year we will have another Police Week in June. In fact, the Police Week programme and the fostering of good relationship between the police and the public have resulted in some success. There are now more civic-conscious members of the public ringing 999 to give information to the police on the incidence of crime, and some have even gone so far as to aid victims of crime. We are also receiving more information from the public to help the police in the detection and arrest of criminals.

As for the programme for this year's Police Week, there is an arrangement for a harbour tour and party for the under-privileged children, inter-community and inter-school sports, and band displays.

An hon. Member: And dinner.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: There is no dinner. I do not think it is necessary to have dinners. The Member for Sembawang has suggested that the Police Inspectors in the various divisions should socialise with community leaders and MPs in the various constituencies. In fact, there has been a standing order to all OC Divisions that whenever police officers are transferred to a certain division they should contact the MP and get to know him and the community leaders. Sometimes they also attend certain functions. For instance, when there is a campaign against crime police officers are invited by the community leaders to go to the community centres to give talks and so on. That is the way they socialise and get to know community leaders and MPs better. Of course, sometimes they are invited to dinners, but I do not think they should be encouraged to go to dinners otherwise they will not be able to keep their waistline trim.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like the police officers to attend to their work and not to take part in dinners.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, I understand that, but maybe I have been thinking that with so many community centres in Sembawang I often see on TV that his community centres hold quite a lot of dinners.

The Member for Sembawang has brought up the point about difficulty in contacting a Police Inspector in a police station. He said that the person concerned was asked to wait for the Police Inspector, and that later on he was told that he could file his complaint to any police officer other than a Police Inspector. May I say that Police Inspectors are not supposed to stay in the police station all the time. A Police Inspector has got work to do and much of his work is done outside the police station. If any member of the public were to go and make a complaint, it is not necessary for him to see the Inspector. There are other senior officers like the sergeant to whom he can make a complaint. In fact, members of the public are welcome to go to the police station and make complaints. Therefore, I do not think it is necessary to set up a complaints bureau in every police division. We have already got the Central Complaints Bureau. I think quite a number of complaints against police officers are sometimes channelled through the Central Complaints Bureau. It is, therefore, not necessary for the Ministry of Home Affairs or the Police Department to set up a complaints bureau in the various police divisions because it will be just a waste of manpower and a duplication of the facilities which already exist.

The Member for Sembawang has said that there are not sufficient patrol cars on the road. He mentioned the case where it took more than half an hour for a patrol car to arrive at the scene when he telephoned for one. The answer to that is that with the implementation of the team policing scheme in 1976 each Land Division has four to five cars on the road at any one time. Prior to this, each Division had only two to three cars on the road per shift. The Land Division patrol network is supplemented by patrol cars from the Radio Division which patrol 25 centres over the Republic and augmented by foot patrols comprising the Police National Service and the CSF. Patrol cars take action on service calls as well as perform crime prevention and detection duties.

The average response time to patrol cars from the Radio Division is between 10 to 15 minutes. However, occasionally too many calls are received simultaneously and at close intervals. Under such circumstances cases are attended to in order of priority. Therefore, cases of lesser importance and urgency will have to wait until patrol cars could be spared from more urgent duties. Delays in arrival at the scene are at times attributable to traffic jams owing to the vast increase in vehicular traffic and the difficulty in locating the site because of incorrect information given by the person requesting for assistance.

Now the present patrol strength is considered adequate to meet the public needs. However, the fleet and response time to calls are closely monitored and changes will be made in accordance with demands.

The Member was complaining about the Traffic Police booking drivers at random. Let me say that they do book drivers at random. This is called "selective enforcement". Let me explain what is meant by selective enforcement. Selective enforcement means that they watch the motorists or drivers and if they see that they have committed an offence, they will book the person. So it may appear to be at random. On the other hand, we see the public urging that there should be more stricter enforcement of drivers who are erring. But it is rather odd that the Member for Sembawang has taken the opposite stand. It is rather odd because there has been too many accidents in Singapore and a lot of deaths, killing and maiming going on, on the roads.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, on a point of clarification. I did not say that we should not book drivers who speed. However, we should not book those who do not speed.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: There are many types of traffic offences. Speeding is only one of them. These drivers may not be speeding but they may be committing one of a host of traffic offences. They should also be booked, for instance, for recklessly overtaking, road hogging, not giving way to traffic, and so on and so forth. I believe the Member for Katong who sits near the Member for Sembawang knows more about these things.

Mr Conceicao: Hear, hear.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Perhaps he can inform the Member for Sembawang all about the intricacies of these things. The Member said that he was a bit confused about the white lines. It is a bit strange that some of these white lines should puzzle him because somebody has told him that they symbolise stones. I myself am a bit surprised and puzzled by what he means. So I am not in a position to comment or reply to him. Perhaps he could ask the person who told him about it to clarify, so that he can write me a letter and if it is intelligible, then I will certainly do my best to explain what these white lines, which are supposed to represent stones, mean.

Coming back to police and public relationship. Mr Speaker, Sir, the development or promotion of police and public relationship is not only confined to the Police Week. It is a continuous and sustained matter. a continuous matter which must be sustained all the year round. As far as the Ministry of Home Affairs is concerned, the police headquarters has issued specific directives and instructions that police officers must show a good example. They have to be courteous and considerate when dealing with the public at all times. I believe there is an improvement to-date although there may be some cases where these strict directives have not been followed. But if there are cases of abuse of power and discourtesy, any MP or member of the public is at liberty to write in and action will be taken. In fact, they should be encouraged to do so. It is only when they write in that we get the feed-back, and action can be taken and the position improved.

Now, coming to the Member for Katong about Project Libra. I am glad that he has highlighted this and he has, in fact, made an ardent appeal for support to this worthwhile project of social service to our youths. The Project Libra has been launched in the Joo Chiat Police Division with the cooperation of the Member for Katong and other MPs. If it proves successful, it will be launched in other divisions as well. The comments of the Member for Katong should certainly give an encouragement to those officers who are now engaged in this Project Libra.

With regard to his suggestion that if we are to establish neighbourhood committees in the various districts we should consult the MPs and the Citizens' Consultative Committee, I assure him that that will be done, because it is only by consulting the MP and the CCC in the area can any project in the various constituencies get going.

Mr Tan Soo Khoon (Alexandra): Mr Speaker, Sir, with your kind permission can I just ask the Hon. Minister one question?

The Chairman: Yes.

3.45 p.m.

Mr Tan Soo Khoon: Mr Speaker, Sir, it seems to me that lately people who call 999 to make reports of crime have been asked to identify themselves. I am aware that previously instructions have been given to the telephone operators at HQ not to insist on asking the identity of the caller. But it appears that nowadays they do ask for the caller's identity. Many members of the public have been put off by this. Could not the Hon. Minister therefore insist that the identity of the caller be not asked?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, there is a rationale why the caller should identify himself or herself. First of all, as the Member for Sembawang has brought up, sometimes when he calls for police help or for a police patrol car there is a delay, it is because at the time when he called there were so many calls for patrol cars and police help. And so he has to wait a longer time. One of the reasons why a caller should identify himself is that we have to know whether it is a genuine call and not somebody just ringing up for fun.

The other point is that the caller not only has to identify himself but also to tell where he can be located, so that it is easier for the police to locate the scene of the crime or incident.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Sir, I have two more questions to ask the Minister. Firstly, he did not answer my question relating to the complaint against speeding of Mobile Squad members. They perform speeding stunts on the road. Who is there to complain against such behaviour? If there is no such complaint, how is the Police Department going to take action to stop or to prevent members of the Mobile Squad from speeding and performing stunts before the public? That is the first point.

The second point is that the Minister does not seem to be sure about the white lines drawn on the side of the road. This is rather strange. Since the Minister does not seem to know the traffic signs made by his own Ministry, then it is very difficult for people to know what they mean. Can the Minister explain to us what is the meaning of this particular road sign? In the Alexandra area, we can see these white lines drawn at the side of the road.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, it is not that I do not know or cannot identify traffic signs. What I meant was that I could not identify the traffic sign the Member for Sembawang was trying to tell me about because he himself said that he is a bit confused and that it is very funny. That is the reason why I cannot answer him.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Sir, it is not a traffic sign. I can draw on a piece of paper to show the Minister what kind of lines I am referring to.

The Chairman: It is a waste of time actually. Mr Phey.

Mr Phey Yew Kok: Mr Speaker, Sir, we are happy to hear from the Minister for Home Affairs that there is a standing instruction to the effect that any new officer-in-charge of any police station, when transferred to a new constituency, should have closer relations with the CCC and the community leaders. Perhaps he may be interested to know that as regards the previous OC of Kandang Kerbau Police Station, I do not think he has ever visited my constituency to introduce himself. But I must compliment the new OC. Mr Ng Leng Hua, who came to our community centre and met the community leaders and had a good discussion and understood each other.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, in response to the Member for Boon Teck, there is such a standing instruction that all OCs have to contact the MPs and CCCs because it will be foolish if they do not do so as it will help them to discharge one of their duties.

As regards the white lines, we do not want to waste the time of the whole House. After this debate, perhaps the Member for Sembawang can show me the sign and I will give him a satisfactory explanation.

With regard to speeding by traffic cops and performing stunts, the Member asked, "Who is to report them?" The Member for Sembawang or any of his constituents can report them. [Interruption] The Member does not know because he has not seen it. So he is spreading rumours, is he not? He should not spread rumours. If someone told him about it, then he should get the facts and make a report. On the other hand, some of these traffic cops on motorcycles may be speeding in pursuit of offending motorists. If they do so, then they are doing their duty.

Mr Hwang Soo Jin: Mr Speaker, Sir, just one small point of clarification. It is a follow-up on the point made by the Member for Boon Teck. I do know there is a standing instruction for the new OC to contact MPs and CCCs as soon as he gets appointed to an area. But from my own experience, beyond that the OC never makes any effort to try to follow-up once in a while to see whether there is anything that need to be discussed. The contact just stops there at the point of his assignment to that post. That is all.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, may I say that these contacts should be reciprocal. So it depends on the particular constituency and particular personalities involved. The OC is under standing instruction to contact the MP. It is also for the MP and the CCC to receive him and reciprocate. So it is a two-way communication. I do not know of the particular case which the Member for Jalan Kayu has mentioned. To me it will be foolish on the part of the OC not to do so because it will make his job much easier. In fact, police work is not just enforcement. Even on enforcement, he needs the cooperation of the public to get the information to detect and apprehend criminals.

Mr Hwang Soo Jin: Sir, I do agree that it ought to be a two-way communication. As it is, it is not two-way and I am quite sure that there is no lack of attempt or effort on the part of the MPs to try to establish this two-way communication. Time and again I have written to the OC, but time and again I have never received any replies from him. So we never know whether the matter has been attended to or not attended to.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, if the Member were to write to me on a specific case. I will deal with the matter. But I am sure that as far as Katong and Joo Chiat are concerned, they are doing fine. They are cooperating on the Project Libra.

Mr Conceicao: Other projects also.

Mr Phey Yew Kok rose -

The Chairman: Mr Phey, are you going to repeat what you have said?

Mr Phey Yew Kok: No, Sir, just to substantiate what I said just now.

The Chairman: Repeating, is it not?

Mr Phey Yew Kok: Not repeating, Sir,I just want to substantiate. There is contact. All MPs normally invite the OC of every station to attend the CCC meetings. On our part, I think it is not fair to say that the MP has not tried to contact the OC to have this rapport.

Mr Hwang Soo Jin: Mr Speaker, Sir, with your indulgence I like to follow up a bit further. On the odd occasion, I did write to the Minister concerned and what I got was a little yellow card from his Permanent Secretary acknowledging receipt.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, can the Member tell me when was that? I cannot remember. Was it years ago?

Mr Hwang Soo Jin: Sir, I think I will collect a few cards and send them over to the Minister.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, I do not think it is true. I meet the Member here in Parliament. He has not raised the matter.

Mr Conceicao: After all that, Sir, I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Mr Conceicao: Sir, I beg to move.

That the sum to be allocated for Head V be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead BOA 1101*. (*The same amendment also stood in the names of Messrs Yeo Choo Kok and Ahmad Haleem ).

Sir, when the Minister announced recently the proposed new and more vigorous measures to cut down what he called the carnage that is going on on our roads. I applauded. I felt at last we are going somewhere in instilling greater courtesy and consideration among road users. Better late than never. I do not know whether it is because of the tardiness of such action or because the Minister has promised a comprehensive and systematic treatment of the problem of introducing more care and discipline on the roads that it will take the next three years to achieve all this. But since the Minister has spoken about a series of measures and has in his mind a programme, he may be in a position at the present moment to give us some more details of such a programme starting perhaps with a rundown (forgive me for using this term, Sir) on the result whether successful or otherwise, of the series of mini campaigns that the traffic police commenced since October last year. It would seem that what is crucial to the success of the Minister's plans is the capacity of the police in terms of manpower and equipment to take adequate enforcement measures. In all the times that I have almost ritually brought up this subject in the House up to the present moment, I have not noticed that there has been such adequacy.

The Chairman: Mr Yeo Choo Kok is not here. Mr Ahmad Haleem.

Mr Ahmad Haleem (Telok Blangah): Sir, foreign visitors have asked me whether our traffic rules are such that we ask our drivers to keep to the centre of the road. Obviously I have to tell them that traffic should not keep to the centre of the road but they have to keep left. At the moment, all we have to do is to take a short drive and we can locate perhaps 10 to 20 offending drivers keeping to the centre of the road. Let me take Members on a hypothetical journey of a person leaving his office to keep an appointment. He goes on the road and the first thing he comes across is the slow driver who is keeping to the centre of the road, on the off-side lane. If he overtakes on the left he is committing an offence and it is dangerous.

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Labour (Mr Fong Sip Chee): No offence.

The Chairman: Carry on with what you want to say, Mr Ahmad Haleem. Do not argue with other Members.

4.00 p.m.

Mr Ahmad Haleem: Sir, if he overtakes on the left, it is dangerous. He could knock down a cyclist. So he must overtake on the right because our law is to keep left. So he must overtake on the right. But he cannot. He is getting angry, so he overtakes on the left. He goes along the road and he comes across two cars driving abreast and blocking the road. Both were driving below the speed limit. Again he horned and flashed his lights. Neither of the drivers gives way. He gets very angry. Finally one decided to move off. So he overtakes. This goes on and he is confronted with four or five more different offences. It reaches a stage when he gets frustrated. He comes across another offence. This time he just overtakes on the left and there is a motorcyclist. There is a "bang" and he has met with an accident. The poor motorcyclist is killed. He might lose his driving licence or even go to jail. The offenders are the slow drivers who drive in the right-hand lane. Right now we have campaigns such as, "Don't Road Hog" or "Keep in lane", etc. The number of offenders does not seem to decrease,

Yesterday, the Senior Minister of State for Communications said that the Points Demerit System might be extended to road hoggers or the number of points might be increased. I welcome this move. I think it is a good idea. For those who have lived in Singapore all their lives and go overseas for only short periods, cannot see this. But for those who have lived overseas for some time and have been driving there, the moment they come back to Singapore they will know that the road condition is good and the traffic condition is much better than any of the major cities around us. This particular offence - drivers not keeping to the left - makes our road condition really bad. If we can get them to keep to the left, there will be no offence. There is no problem if they drive in the centre lane or the off-side lane of the road if there is no traffic behind them. But if there is a car coming up, they should keep to the left and let that car overtake them because after overtaking the car can get on its way and its travelling time is lessened. If travelling time is lessened, there will be less congestion, and with less congestion there is less frustration, and I am sure there will be less accidents. So can the Minister for Home Affairs conduct a vigorous campaign, hopefully within the next couple of years so that we can rid ourselves of motorists who insisted on driving on the right hand lane or off-side lane.

The other matter is the horn. I was in a taxi the other day. There was no traffic to the left and to the right, and no traffic either in front or back. But about every nine seconds (after a while I started timing it) the driver just pipped his horn. A lot of these "neurotic horn pushers", I call them, for no apparent reason keep on pipping the horn. The horn is supposed to be used in an emergency. Right now there is no meaning to the use of the horn because some motorists just use it. If both these problems can be looked into and perhaps stronger action taken, I am sure we will have less congestion on the road and we will have safer roads.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, in reply to the Member for Katong, I am particularly gratified to note the keen interest and support he has manifested for the programme of introducing more care and discipline on our roads. This is because the battle to bring about more care, courtesy and discipline and to reduce carnage on our roads is a long and arduous one.

The Member for Telok Blangah has brought up a point about keeping to the left, saying that there should be no road hogging, and so on and so forth. All these faults are noted. In fact, these are the faults that have prompted the Traffic Police to launch this campaign that will start off in June. Let me say a few things about this campaign. The road safety campaign is to be called "A Road Safety for You" campaign. During the campaign the motoring public will be advised on the proper mode of driving, after which enforcement action will be taken against violators. The most successful formula in the anti-litter campaign is that we start off educating the public with total community involvement in the campaign, and after we have given due warnings we follow up with strict enforcement. I hope that this will have the same effect. When I say "total community involvement", it will not only cover motorists but also pedestrians. School children will be largely involved in this campaign since instilling of good habit on anything, whether it be road safety or otherwise, must start with the young. As you know, Mr Speaker, Sir, the school going population consists of one-quarter of our population.

As a prelude to this nation-wide safety campaign, the Traffic Police launched a series of mini campaigns on the common motoring faults. This has already started since November last year, and they are "Keep in lane", "Don't road hog" and "Give way". The current campaign now going on is "Overtake safely". This will be followed by a campaign on turning traffic. The underlying rationale of all these campaigns is that there should be more safety and courtesy.

What about pedestrians? At the moment a good number of pedestrian crossings have been provided for pedestrians but many fail to use them. Because of this, the Pedestrian Crossing Rules, 1977, will be introduced to require pedestrians to use them. The number of pedestrian crossing facilities will be increased, particularly along arterial highways. Two main features of this proposed law are:

(a) Any pedestrian who is within 50 metres on either side of a pedestrian crossing is required to make use of such pedestrian crossing for the purpose of crossing the road;

(b) Every motorist is required to give way to pedestrians at established pedestrian crossings. (In other words, we have to be fair not only to the motorists but also to the pedestrians.) Under the proposed law, offences by pedestrians include:

(1) crossing the road other than at an established crossing when the pedestrian is within 50 metres of such a crossing;

(2) crossing other than to the parallel flow of vehicular traffic when using established crossings at signalised intersections;

(3) crossing when the red man in the signalised traffic sign is illuminated; and

(4) stand, sit, squat, loiter or walk on the roadway in such a manner or in such a position as to interfere with the lawful movement of traffic.

With regard to offences by motorists, they include:

(a) failure to give way to pedestrians at any crossing when turning his vehicle at a road intersection;

(b) failing to proceed at such speed as will enable him to stop his vehicle when approaching a pedestrian crossing;

(c) failure to give way to pedestrians at pedestrian crossings where the traffic is not controlled by a police officer or by light signals, for example, at zebra crossings;

(d) failure to give way to pedestrians crossing at road intersections where traffic is controlled by light signal or police officers.

The Pedestrian Crossing Rules, 1977, will come into force after the nation-wide road safety campaign in June. The penalties for any contravention of these rules are prescribed under section 82 of the Road Traffic Act (Chapter 92); in the case of the first offence, to a fine not exceeding $1,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months; and in the case of a second and subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding $2,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months. These are penalties against motorists, Sir, not pedestrians. For pedestrians the fines will be very much lower.

The Member for Telok Blangah mentioned about a taxi driver who was horning all the way. May I tell him that it is an offence to horn unnecessarily. If only he had taken down the number of the taxi and is prepared to give a statement and bear witness, the driver will be prosecuted. Unfortunately, he has not done so.

The other matter about keeping to the left is covered by lane discipline.

Mr Conceicao: Sir, in the Minister's reference to "total involvement", I hope he will also be able to secure the cooperation of Government departments and statutory boards including, of course, the Police which have lots of vehicles on the road and see that their drivers obey the Highway Code.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: I can assure the Member for Katong that that will be done. In fact, this campaign is not only a police campaign, but it will be a nation-wide one, involving many other departments and Ministries as well. We will not hesitate to book any driver of a Government vehicle if he commits a traffic offence.

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

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Haji Sha'ari Bin Tadin (Bedok): Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head V be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead CIA 1101*. (* The same amendment also stood in the name of Mr Ahmad Haleem).

Sir, while I appreciate the good work that is being done by the Drug Rehabilitation Centre in trying to rehabilitate our drug addicts, I would like to examine the quality of our rehabilitation programmes for drug addicts more closely. It is well known that the best rehabilitation programmes for drug addicts in Western countries fall between 5 and 10% of all those who enter such programmes. In Singapore we have introduced the compulsory aftercare programmes since August of last year to make aftercare mandatory for two years upon release from the Drug Rehabilitation Centre. This is a praiseworthy move to increase the efficacy and efficiency of rehabilitation programmes in our country.

Sir, many people believe that the failure rate of all this effort has been very high. What I want to know is, has the cold turkey treatment been all that effective? It would remove physical dependence on drugs, yes, but could it remove the psychological dependence? Relapse rates appear to be high, indicating the poor success of whatever effort that has been put in so far. Would the Minister state what programmes, if any, are being put into action or planned to reduce the high relapse rate?

The Ministry of Home Affairs is spending large sums of money on rehabilitating drug addicts at the Drug Rehabilitation Centre and I understand the Ministry of Defence has its own rehabilitation programme while, at the level of school assemblies, volunteer speakers are eloquently persuading youths to avoid the dangerous path of drug abuse. Sir, we should encourage groups like the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association (SANA) to embark on education programmes for the young before they are exposed to drug abuse. In this respect. Sir, the Ministries of Home Affairs, Social Affairs, Education and Defence and the People's Association through its various youth groups have a responsibility in leading and guiding voluntary effort in this war against drug abuse.

4.15 p.m.

In view of the pressing need to contain and conquer drug abuse, the battle has to be fought from all fronts. I would like to ask the Minister the following questions:-

(i) Sometime last year, Sir, several inmates of the Drug Rehabilitation Centre managed to do all kinds of things at the Centre and culminated their misdeed by escaping from the Centre. What is the security position now? Has any post-mortem study been made on why these inmates had tried to escape and then voluntarily returned to the Centre? The House would be interested to know if any steps have been taken to improve the conditions and treatment of these inmates.

(ii) In terms of consultation, exchange of professional expertise and the use of voluntary workers, what is the Centre actually doing in these areas?

(iii) What are the main problems faced by addicts when they are released from the Centre?

(iv) What follow-up action is taken to guide such persons after their release?

(v) What is the actual extent of the Centre's contribution towards the solution of the drug problem in the Republic?

(vi) Are there plans to shift the present Centre somewhere else in a better and more conducive environment for such rehabilitation work to be carried out?

(vii) There was a nation-wide and anti-drug abuse campaign last year organised by the NADAC 76. What was the follow-up programme carried out immediately after the successful campaign or has the effort been left to die a natural death?

(viii) To what extent have the recommendations put up by the NADAC 76 been implemented?

(ix) Would the Minister enlighten the House on the progress of the work of the Special Committee that was set up to look into the problems of drug abuse in the Republic?

Sir, the answers to all these questions would be of great interest and concern to all of us in this House as well as those outside - like parents, teachers, social workers, everyone for that matter.

Mr Ahmad Haleem: Sir, most of what need to be said has been said. I only want to ask one further question. Could the Hon. Minister give the racial composition, by percentage and in absolute terms, of drug addicts in Singapore? The reason I ask this question is that I have spoken to several parents and they seem to pass the buck. They either say that drug addicts are not from their community or from their racial group. If this can be broken down by racial composition. I think it might help to avoid this "passing the buck".

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, may I seek your indulgence. The Member for Bedok has moved an amendment to subhead CIA 1101. May I ask if he is going to speak again on subhead FAA 1101, Amendment (7)* which stands in his name?

• The amendment standing in the names of Haji Sha'ari Bin Tadin and Dr Ong Leong Boon reads as follows: (7) That the sum to be allocated for Head V be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead FAA 1101.

Haji Sha'ari Bin Tadin: Yes.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, in that case can the Member be permitted to speak on his amendment (7) now, as subhead FAA 1101 deals with the same subject?

The Chairman: Yes. Haji Sha'ari.

Haji Sha'ari Bin Tadin: Sir, once again I would like to battle against drug abuse. This is because the problem has assumed such proportions that it has become a national concern. The Deputy Prime Minister only two days ago in replying to a query by a Member informed the House that there were about 700 cases of drug abuse amongst the national servicemen in the SAF, which is about 1%. Let it remain a national concern, and let it not become a matter of national proportion. The latter would be a calamity if it is allowed to materialise.

From the latest arrest figures issued by the Central Narcotics Bureau, two trends stand out boldly: One, that more and more of those between the ages of 15 and 35 are abusing drugs and, two, more of those in this age group are abusing heroin. The total number of persons arrested has also gone up: from 2,858 in 1971 to 6,556 in 1976, a rise of more than two-fold in numbers alone. What about the unknown addicts? How many are there?

The question is: what other efforts and approaches are being made by the CNB, besides making arrests of addicts and abusers and sending them to the Drug Rehabilitation Centre at Telok Paku? While this points to the increased efficiency of law enforcement, I have certain observations to make in regard to the policy.

This is the cure', although there are real doubts about this too. But what about the prevention'? Sir, I am a firm believer in adages, and certainly the most famous of these is "Prevention is better than Cure". Is the island-wide anti-drug abuse campaign reportedly planned for next month code-named Operation Ferret designed to be curative' or preventive' in function? From what has been published, it appears to be more attempted cure' than prevention'. It should lay equal emphasis on both aspects, at least.

Meanwhile, drug abuse is spreading. For the sake of the majority of our youths who are struggling to do the right things in life and who come under the influence of drug-prone youths, we must have a strong and vigorous on-going anti-drug prevention campaign or programme, not only at the level of schools and youth organizations, but at the community centre and neighbourhood levels, in order to educate parents and community leaders who are in charge of guiding our youth.

What is disturbing is the feeling in some quarters that the efforts mounted by the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association to take anti-drug education in schools are being nullified by the inconceivable attitudes and thinking of some Ministry of Education officials. If there is any truth in this, it is my hope that the Minister who is also the Minister for Education would take immediate steps to look into the matter, It is in the schools that we can prevent the beginnings of drug abuse. It is with the schools that we can inculcate in the young the sense of personal well-being by avoiding drugs. It is in the school that will find most ready reception. It would be most unfortunate if it was true that some Ministry officials are trying to rock the boat that prevents a "prevention" campaign being carried out.

Sir, the dangers of drug abuse are very real. There are no doubts about this. Every ounce of effort must be geared towards eradication of this scourge in society. What we do today in this respect will have a profound effect on the quality of a society that our children will have tomorrow. In fact, Sir, if I could suggest to the Minister whether he could consider "Prevention through education" to be the panacea of the drug-abuse field. Where law enforcement fails to stamp the supply of illegal drugs, and rehabilitation efforts have so far failed to reclaim many abusers why not pour the money that we collect from the seizure of smuggling heroin and other drugs by the Customs into education to stop the problem before it begins. Perhaps we could make drug education as part of the school curriculum in the teaching of Civics. Of course, this will require a very careful in-depth study and planning before it is introduced and implemented.

The Chairman: Dr Ong is not here.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, may I first deal with drug rehabilitation? Since the beginning of 1976 a tougher programme of rehabilitation was introduced. Cold turkey treatment was introduced and addicts at the Drug Rehabilitation Centre must undergo this treatment after being certified fit by a medical doctor. No replacement therapy is allowed. It is hoped that the rigours of cold turkey treatment will give them an experience which they will not forget quickly. However, after the cold turkey treatment, which normally takes about two weeks or so, addicts are given regular physical drills and exercises to instil personal discipline in them. This is necessary because most of the addicts are weak in character and lack personal discipline, or even if they had personal discipline before they would have lost it. Therefore, work as a form of rehabilitation has been introduced with a view to inculcating skill and work discipline among them. They now have to do eight hours of work a day. This will help them after they have come out from the Rehabilitation Centre to lead a normal life.

The addicts are being counselled by probation and aftercare officers while they are in the Drug Rehabilitation Centre. This is to establish rapport between the officers and these inmates early so that compulsory after-care after their release from the Centre will have the best chance of success. Recidivism among drug addicts before the introduction of compulsory after-care in August 1976 was high, about 70%. With the introduction of compulsory after-care, this level of recidivism should be reduced. However, Sir, it is too early to assess the impact of compulsory after-care. The situation is being closely monitored.

The application of cold turkey treatment, a stricter code of discipline, work therapy, counselling and after-care, should motivate addicts to give up drugs after their release from the Drug Rehabilitation Centre. Those who do not change will have to be sent back to the Centre and put through a tougher and longer rehabilitation programme. The treatment of rehabilitation at the Centre was instituted after consultation with experts from the Ministry of Health and the Probation and After-Care Service of the Ministry of Social Affairs. A committee has also been formed comprising representatives from various departments and disciplines to look into the matter. Although no foreign experts were sought, treatment programmes in Japan, Hong Kong and the United States and a number of Western countries were studied, but they have to be modified to suit our needs.

The Member for Bedok asked about the escape of 13 male inmates from the Rehabilitation Centre at Telok Paku in August 1976. Since then security at the Centre has been strengthened. Three watch towers have been built to enhance surveillance, a dog and mobile patrol has been introduced to deter attempts to escape. But, Mr Speaker, Sir, what I would like to stress, which has not been recognised, is that when the 13 inmates escaped from the Centre they were undergoing cold turkey treatment at that time. In other words, they had just been admitted and, as you know, Mr Speaker, Sir, when they are undergoing cold turkey treatment that is the very time when their craving for drugs is at its height. For cold turkey treatment, we now have specially constructed rooms with padded walls and, of course, the security has been enhanced.

4.30 p.m.

With regard to the National Anti-Drug Abuse Campaign organised by the Singapore Anti-Narcotics Association (SANA), what is called NADAC 1976 as referred to by the Member for Bedok, we regard it as very useful in creating public awareness and disseminating information on the dangers of drug taking. After the campaign SANA submitted a report to my Ministry and made certain recommendations on how to tackle the drug problem. Most of the measures recommended by SANA were, in fact, already implemented. Others have been sent to the relevant Ministries for their consideration. Now, the Member for Bedok has referred to the special committee on drug abuse among youths which was appointed in April 1974. This committee submitted its report in November 1976. The report provides useful information on the characteristics of drug abuse, young drug abusers and the cause of drug abuse. The recommendations of this committee are now being studied and will be implemented if found practical.

Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Bedok has said that he believes that "prevention through education" is the panacea to our problem of drug addiction. Sir, "prevention through education" can be one of the aspects in solving the drug problem but it is certainly no panacea because the drug problem is so complex that there is no single panacea to the drug problem. In fact, it must be tackled from all angles and all fronts - prevention, cure and so on. That is being done and we are doing everything within our power to do so. There cannot be any single panacea in answer to the drug problem.

Mr Speaker, Sir, may I now turn to the issue of drug trafficking and how to contain addiction. This is in reply to the Member for Bedok as well as to the Member for Anson who have made certain statements earlier on. Only heroin addiction, especially among the young, has escalated during the last few years. The pattern of increase in drug addiction among youths, as reported by the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs, is universal. The Government realises the seriousness of the problem and is very concerned and, as I have said, it will do everything in its power to combat it. The battle against the drug problem will be fought on all fronts and, in particular, on two fronts; first, the elimination of supply and, secondly, the curbing of demand for drugs. To do this, there must be maximum cooperation or coordination amongst all the agencies involved so that there will not be serious bottlenecks, and manpower will be used to the best advantage. Our strategy, therefore, is for the Central Narcotics Bureau to concentrate on the supply side of the problem. That is, to seek out and arrest drug traffickers and pushers.

As for the demand side, that is, the rounding up of drug addicts and rehabilitating them, the large pool of manpower in the Special Constabulary, Vigilante Corps, Drug Squad and the Divisional Police will be used. As I have announced earlier, this massive roundup of drug addicts, code named "Operation Ferret", will commence in April of this year when a new drug rehabilitation centre will be ready to accommodate another 800 addicts at a time. "Operation Ferret" will be closely monitored. After the first three months of the operation, we will be in a better position to estimate the population of heroin addicts, the rate it is growing and the rate at which addicts who have gone through the drug rehabilitation centre relapse.

A committee on the treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts has been recently appointed to evaluate and make recommendations on the treatment and rehabilitation of addicts.

With all these measures we are hopeful that drug addiction, especially among the young, will be checked.

Mr Speaker, Sir, in order to clarify the misconception on the part of the Member for Bedok, "Operation Ferret" is also a prevention operation. It is not only a cure because, as everybody knows, if you have a drug addict at large and he is not caught and put in a rehabilitation centre, he is bound to infect his other innocent friends. There will be a multiplier effect and you get more drug addicts. In that respect it is a prevention.

The hon. Member for Anson has suggested that exit control may help to prevent foreigners from trafficking drugs in Singapore in that their overstaying could be easily detected. I agree with him that exit control may help but only to the extent that foreigners seeking entry into Singapore are known to be drug traffickers. In fact, even without exit control foreigners who have been involved in, or who are suspected of, trafficking in drugs are now prohibited from entering into Singapore. Even foreigners who are known drug addicts are also prohibited from entering Singapore. However, exit control would not be of help if foreign traffickers are not known to our enforcement agencies. Drug traffickers now operate in small groups of three to five persons, the majority of whom have no previous drug records either in Singapore or elsewhere. Therefore, stringent entry control could not affect these persons who are unlikely to overstay their visits once they have completed their nefarious activities. In these cases careful investigation and intelligent gathering by the enforcement authorities are more important in detecting the traffickers and dealers. These, Mr Speaker, Sir, are being set up.

The Member for Telok Blangah has asked me about the racial composition of the number of addicts. That is a specific question. I have no figures of it here. If he will write in, I will give him the exact figures.

Haji Sha'ari Bin Tadin: In view of the reply, I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The Chairman: At this stage I propose to take the suspension.

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

Mr Speaker: Order. I will suspend the Sitting now and take the Chair again at ten minutes past Five o'clock.

Sitting accordingly suspended at 4.38 p.m. until 5.10 p.m. Sitting resumed at 5.10 p.m.

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Debate in Committee of Supply resumed.

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Head V - (cont.)

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

That the sum to be allocated for Head V be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead DAA 1101.

Sir, the Immigration Department is one Government office that constantly meets people both local and from abroad. Last year there were 1.5 million tourists passing through Singapore. Of course, many of our citizens have also gone abroad. So it is important for officers in this department to be courteous to the public. There has been a general improvement in the work of the Immigration Department. However, there are certain shortcomings. So let me inform the Minister.

Firstly, I have received many complaints from members of the public that the officers at the counters in the Immigration Department are quite discourteous to members of the public. They do not properly help them in their dealings with the department. Many of them who have business to go there are dissatisfied and they have a very bad impression of the department. Even though that impression is created only by some members of the staff, it will give a poor image to the department thus reflecting on the Government of Singapore. The Minister concerned should look into it and take steps to rectify this situation.

Secondly, at Woodlands checkpoint the officers in charge are not doing their duty properly. They just sit inside and would not care about the crowd thronging outside. At peak hours they would open up only two checkpoint entrances leaving the other entrances closed. There is usually a long queue of vehicles waiting to go through, particularly at this checkpoint because many people who pass through that checkpoint everyday are either coming to Singapore from Malaysia or going from Singapore to Malaysia. The Minister should get the officers there to speed up their work and to open more traffic channels during peak hours at this checkpoint to facilitate traffic flow.

5.15 p.m.

Thirdly, I would also like to ask the Minister whether he would be liberal in his consideration of applications for permanent residence. One of my constituents who is a Singapore citizen has a Malaysian wife. They have been married for over ten years and have two children born in Singapore. One of them, namely the husband, is a store assistant earning about $600 per month, and he has been paying income tax every year in Singapore. His monthly income is sufficient for him to maintain his family. He has many times applied for citizenship for his wife but has been rejected every time. His case deserves sympathetic consideration and approval.

The Chairman: Are you on the right amendment, Mr Teong? You are talking about citizenship.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: Not citizenship but permanent residence, Sir.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, in reply to the Member for Sembawang, may I take his first point about providing courteous and efficient service to members of the public by Immigration Department officers? The Immigration Department is aware of the need to provide such courteous and efficient service to members of the public at all times. Towards this end, painstaking efforts have been made to inculcate members of the staff, especially those serving at the counters, to be courteous and helpful. All Immigration staff upon recruitment undergo a period of full-time orientation with emphasis on courtesy and the correct attitude towards serving the public. Subsequently, refresher courses and discussion sessions are also organised for the same purpose. Further, Mr Speaker, Sir, departmental circulars are regularly issued to staff to remind them of this.

Any complaint of discourtesy or rudeness from any member of the public will be immediately investigated and if established appropriate disciplinary action will be taken. In 1975, only three complaints were received against counter staff in the Immigration Department. Two were found to be not true and in the third case the officer was warned. In 1976, no written complaint was received against counter staff. However, statistics are not kept on oral complaints as these are settled on the spot. Where there was truth in the verbal complaint, action was taken against the officer concerned. Perhaps the Member for Sembawang should bring to my attention if he is aware of any specific case.

Coming to the Member's second question. He said, when he passed through the Woodlands checkpoint, he saw that only two channels were opened, and as a result there were long queues of cars needed to be checked. During the greater part of the day, Sir, six or eight car lanes are opened to handle traffic through the Woodlands checkpoint. Eight car lanes are maintained during peak hours. However, between midnight and the early hours of the morning two car lanes are opened, i.e, after midnight and the early hours of the morning. Sir, I do not know at what time the Member for Sembawang was returning from Johore Bahru.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Sir, allow me to clarify?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Two channels were opened. Perhaps the Member was returning from Johore Bahru after midnight. I can quite understand his predicament if he was in a hurry to go back to his wife and family!

Sir, statistics however show that during these hours an average of 20 cars pass through the lane per hour. Experience shows that there is no queuing of cars during this period. The hon. Member is assured that the senior officers at the Woodlands checkpoint keep a constant watch of the traffic situation and sufficient car lanes are always provided for speedy clearance.

The Member's third question on applications by Singapore citizens for permanent residence (not citizenship) for their foreign wives are considered on the merits of each case. Under the Immigration law, the foreign wife of a Singapore citizen is eligible for consideration only if she has not at any time after the marriage been living separately from her husband for a continuous period of more than five years. Besides income level there are also other guiding factors such as the family size, the roots and whether the couple has a genuine desire to make Singapore their permanent home. I should stress that the grant of the status of permanent residence, Mr Speaker, Sir, is a very important matter and cannot be taken too lightly because it is the first step to application for citizenship. I can assure the Member for Sembawang that each application by a Singapore citizen for permanent residence for his foreign wife will receive careful consideration by the Immigration Department and the deserving cases will be approved.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Sir, for the information of the Minister, I was at the Woodlands checkpoint at 6 o'clock in the evening, not at midnight. It was at 6 p.m. during the peak hours when there was heavy traffic and only two channels were opened, not eight channels, If the Minister's information is eight channels, then he has been deceived. Between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m., only two channels were opened. It is usually the case. Who is the person in charge of the checkpoint? He should inform the Minister correctly of the truth of the situation. He should not give the Minister a wrong picture.

Concerning permanent residence, the Minister has said that to qualify for consideration, the wife of a Singapore citizen should have the minimum length of stay after the marriage and also the monthly income should be sufficient to support the family and other factors. Very soon I will be writing to the Minister to inform him of this application so that he can take the necessary action for a serious consideration.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, on the last point, the Member said that he will be writing to me about this case. If he had written to me earlier, then he would not have wasted the time of the House. I would have given him a satisfactory explanation for that particular case.

The other point is that the Member has now clarified that he was passing through the Woodlands checkpoint not after midnight but at 6 p.m. I do not know why he appeared so keen to clarify about the time. In any case, if the Member for Sembawang were to give me the particulars of this specific case because I am hearing it for the first time, then I will cause an investigation to be made and I am sure I shall give him a satisfactory answer.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Sir, before I withdraw the amendment. I would like the Minister to listen to me further. I hope that he will notify the officers concerned in the Immigration Department of what he has said here, that is, from now on they have to open eight car lanes. Otherwise I will be going there to make an on-the-spot check to see whether they have done so.

Sir, I beg leave to withdraw.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn,

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

That the sum to be allocated for Head V be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead GAA 1101.

Sir, I hope the Hon. Minister for Home Affairs has a lot of time for me.

I wonder how the National Registration Office deals with the issue of Singapore identity cards for persons who have been granted Singapore citizenship. Does the Registration Office co-ordinate its work with the Citizenship Office in the issue of identity cards promptly?

I have a case where a Malaysian woman married to a Singapore citizen successfully acquired Singapore citizenship last November. She was then advised by the Citizenship Office to surrender her Malaysian documents to the Malaysian High Commission and then to collect the Singapore Citizenship Certificate. Immediately after she received her Citizenship Certificate, she went over to the National Registration Office to apply for a Singapore identity card. She was then given a temporary receipt at the National Registration Office. And, only yesterday, after five months have passed, did she receive her identity card. Why was there such a long delay?

In the meantime, she was issued with a restricted passport granted provisionally for three months, pending the issue of her Singapore identity card. The three months period has already expired and she was given a second extension of her restricted passport.

Sir, normally, the granting of citizenship takes a long time. But it seems our National Registration Office makes it more difficult to get an identity card.

Can the Minister explain the reason for the delay in the issue of this identity card and what is the procedure?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, in reply to the Member for Anson, before the National Registration Office issues a Singapore identity card to a person who has been granted Singapore citizenship, the particulars in his or her documents have to be verified with the respective foreign mission in Singapore to ensure that there was no falsification. The verification requires reference to the issuing authorities. Therefore, some delay in the issue of the Singapore identity card to her was unavoidable.

However, Mr Speaker, Sir, I agree with the Member that it is not a good practice to verify documents after the grant of citizenship. Since the beginning of this month, therefore, this practice has been stopped. A person's particulars are now verified before he or she is granted citizenship. On obtaining citizenship, he or she can now be issued with a Singapore identity card immediately.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Sir, I have a question to ask the Minister. In 1962 or 1963, an exercise was carried out to change the old paper identity cards to plastic laminated identity cards. I think the exercise was carried out in 1966. If an identity card was issued before 1948 and if the holder was born in Singapore as recorded in that identity card, then he was issued with a citizen's pink identity card. But I have received certain complaints from my constituents that birth certificate numbers are not recorded on the pink identity cards. So when the children go to school, the teachers normally ask their parents to produce their birth certificates. But the certificates were lost and could not be produced. Since 1948 the issue of identity cards recognise the proof of citizenship as recorded in the old cards and we have pink new plastic laminated identity cards as evidence of citizenship as recorded. So why do our schools require the children to produce their birth certificates or birth registration numbers. I would like the Minister to clarify whether pink identity cards are indicative of citizens' identity cards.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, the answer is quite simple. It is to double check. If the person was really born in Singapore, the only way to check is from the birth certificate.

5.30 p.m.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Why should there be the need to double check? It was already announced in Parliament that all those who hold laminated pink identity cards are Singapore citizens. Why should there be the need to double check?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sometime last week I think I have answered in Parliament that when we carried out a recheck we found that certain card holders were not actually born in Singapore.

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

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

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

That the sum to be allocated for Head V be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead HAA 1101.

I know that the granting of citizenship is not a right but only a privilege. It is granted depending on the situation of the State, and the person who is granted will not be a national liability. Sir, some years back citizenship was so easy to get that one just had to go through a "turnstile" system to get a certificate. In 1968 when the British pullout was announced we were very strict in granting citizenship. Now I wonder what is the policy? Could the Minister explain? Is there any relaxation?

Sir, there are many old people who have been living here for many decades. These people have strong family background and with children supporting them. They have applied for Singapore citizenship but their applications have been pending for many years. I have the case of an old lady who has been living here since 1948. She owns properties and her children were all born in Singapore and are financially strong. This lady has applied for citizenship but her application has been "dangling" for many years. Why is there such a delay for this type of a case? After all these people are not going to seek employment. Their financial background is also sound. So why cannot early consideration be given?

Can the Minister use his good offices to deal with such cases favourably and expeditiously as they will not be a national liability in the future.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, the Member for Anson has again brought up this point - that the grant of citizenship is a privilege and not a right and that the main basis of granting citizenship is that the applicant will be a national asset and not a liability. Sir, I agree with him entirely. However, the Government policy on citizenship as enunciated from time to time is that the criteria for citizenship are always kept under constant review, but there is no basic change in the policy itself. Some modifications have been made over the years to give favourable consideration, for example, to the only non-citizen in the family and to former minor citizens who have failed to take the oath of allegiance. In addition the processing of citizenship applications has been speeded up. All these have cumulatively resulted in more persons being granted citizenship last year. A total of 7,806 applications were approved last year compared to 6,347 in 1975 and only 3,989 in 1974.

With regard to applications from people who have been living in Singapore for many years, most of these people could have acquired Singapore citizenship years ago without any difficulty because in those days granting of citizenship was much easier. But these people would rather keep their option open then, and as such elected to take their chances. Sir, most of them are therefore responsible for their own plight.

The Member for Anson quoted the case of an old lady with property and sound financial support. I cannot specifically comment on this case from the scanty facts he has given me, However, I would like to clear the air again regarding the question why some old people are not granted citizenship even when their children are in good financial position to support them. My answer is that each case should be considered on its own merit. However, in all cases where the children say that they are in a good financial position to support their old parents, it is necessary to ascertain that the children are not only able to support their aged parents but will continue to support them, and that the applicant will not become a burden to the State in future. For example, we must make sure that the children are not, in fact, making use of this grant of citizenship as a device to dump the old parents in an old folks' home, which usually takes in only citizens. As a matter of policy, applications from retired persons who had made economic or social contributions to the economy are given sympathetic consideration provided they have strong family roots in Singapore and are unlikely to become a liability to the State.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: Sir, the old lady told me that she wanted to die in Singapore and therefore she wanted to become a Singapore citizen. Anyway, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Dr Lau Teik Soon (Serangoon Gardens): Mr Speaker, Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head V be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead LAA 1101.

Sir, in March 1974 this House passed the Martial Arts Instruction Bill, 1974, and under section 32 of the Act the Controller of the Martial Arts Control Unit (MACU) is empowered to investigate any report of malpractices or irregular activities on the part of martial art clubs. Sad to say. Sir. MACU to-date seems to be a dormant department because their officials seem to be unable or unwilling to investigate and take necessary action against such illegal martial art clubs. Let me elaborate.

Under the Act, only the controlling or national organizations of the various martial arts have the authority to grade students, and therefore, any grading exercise conducted by any martial art club would be illegal. However, Sir, there was the case of an illegal grading exercise reported by a national organization but MACU did nothing about it. This happened when the Singapore Taekwondo Federation brought to the attention of the MACU that a martial art club, viz, the American School Taekwondo Club, had graded their students without MACU or the Federation's approval. Sir, MACU ignored the complaint on the ground that the American School Taekwondo Club was not a registered club and, therefore, nothing could be done. This is just one example but there are other cases which received the same treatment.

Sir, in my view this is simply ridiculous. In the first place, under section 5 of the Act, any martial art club which is not registered with MACU is an unlawful association, and yet MACU which is a department in the Ministry of Home Affairs states that it can do nothing about it! Secondly, such a nonchalant attitude by MACU will only encourage the existence of more illegal martial art clubs. Thirdly, MACU should be the department of final authority as far as the control of martial arts is concerned, but the officials are simply evading that responsibility.

Further, Sir, in view of the Government's sports-for-all policy, I would think that MACU should assist in facilitating the teaching of martial arts as widely as possible. Thus, I am surprised that MACU has not acted against those martial art clubs which are registered with the Registrar of Business Names. Sports should not be a profit-making venture and, therefore, business-oriented martial art clubs should be registered with the Registrar of Societies and not with the Registrar of Business Names.

Sir, I am happy to note that for FY 77, for the first time, there is provision for the employment of permanent staff to man the Martial Arts Control Unit. This I hope will establish MACU as an effective unit. However, may I suggest that to assist the Controller of MACU, particularly on aspects pertaining to the martial arts, that an advisory Committee of Martial Arts Organizations be formed, comprising representatives from MACU, Singapore Sports Council and the national organizations. Such a committee can work immediately on defining more precisely the nature of various martial arts and expediting the approval of applications from trainees and coaches.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, may I explain the position to the Member for Serangoon Gardens. The primary purpose of the Martial Arts Instruction Act is to provide a system of control of martial art associations, their instructors and trainees and to ensure that those who learn the art are not likely to abuse it. The control of martial art associations is. therefore, achieved mainly through two measures: (a) licensing of martial art instructors and, (b) screening of those who wish to learn martial arts. Within this broad framework, the Martial Arts Control Unit (MACU) exercises the supervision over all martial art bodies in the Republic with, I would like to emphasise, the active support and cooperation of the Singapore Sports Council. The Singapore Sports Council is consulted on every application for registration of a martial art association or instructor.

Since July 1976, field officers of MACU have been visiting martial art associations to check whether the provisions of the Martial Arts Instruction Act and the regulations made thereunder are observed. During their visits the field officers also ensure that the conditions of registration of the instructors and trainees are complied with.

The Member for Serangoon Gardens referred to gradings of trainees. May I explain that MACU is concerned mainly with the background and character of martial art instructors and trainees and the purpose for which the trainees in the art is given or acquired. MACU itself does not have the expertise to evaluate the professional competence of the various types of martial art instructors.

5.45 p.m.

However, to prevent martial art instructors from conducting gradings at will and to protect martial art trainees from being exploited, no instructor is allowed to conduct any grading without the prior permission of the Controller of Martial Arts. This condition. Mr Speaker, Sir, is stipulated in every instructor's certificate issued. Failure to comply with this condition is an offence punishable by fine and/or imprisonment. Permission to conduct grading is given only if the application is supported by the Singapore Sports Council which in turn consults with the Federation of Controlling Bodies of the various forms of martial arts and they review such applications. This practice, in actual fact, places the control of grading of trainees by instructors within the powers of the Singapore Sports Council in consultation with the Federation of Controlling Bodies. MACU therefore merely acts as a vehicle in the exercise of this control.

With regard to the suggestion by the Member for Serangoon Gardens about the formation of an advisory committee, we have already got this machinery of consultation with the Singapore Sports Council which in turn consults the Federation of Controlling Bodies.

Dr Lau Teik Soon: Sir, there have been cases of martial art instructors who have been registered with MACU without the approval of the Federation of Controlling Bodies in consultation with the Singapore Sports Council. I shall personally bring these cases to his attention, and I hope he will consider them.

In view of his explanation. I beg to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The following amendment stood in the name of Mr Ng Kah Ting -

(11) That the sum to be allocated for Head V be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead BBA 8102

The Chairman: Mr Ng Kah Ting is not here.

The sum of $152,438,440 for Head V ordered to stand part of the Main Estimates.

The sum of $19,522,000 for Head V ordered to stand part of the Development Estimates.

5.48 p.m.

[Mr Deputy Speaker in the Chair]

The Chairman: Head W -

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

That the sum to be allocated for Head W be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead AAA 1004*. (*The same amendment also stood in the names of Messrs P. Govindaswamy, Ho Kah Leong and Ch'ng Jit Koon).

Sir, the provision for this head of expenditure, Ministry of Education, is a very substantial sum totalling more than $470 million for various educational objectives, as education is an important component of nation building.

The Singapore education system places emphasis on bilingual education to meet the needs of the multi-lingual society and the needs of our technical and industrial development. This emphasis and the policy are all very correct.

Over the years the education system has attracted a lot of attention and debate in this House. The debate on the education system is aimed at improving the system. Now in order to promote the healthy development of education, I would like to air a few points in this House for the Minister concerned. Firstly, will he consider the introduction of the full-day school system by stages? As far as I know, there are many schools in Singapore, particularly the aided schools, which have empty classrooms. Such schools can well be converted into full-day schools which have many advantages. The full-day school will provide more time for the students to learn the various subjects and to produce a better generation.

Secondly, I would like to ask the Minister whether he will consider setting up one or more commercial schools for those who have Secondary IV qualifications but are not qualified to enter Pre-U classes. This year there are many Secondary IV students and because of the 20-point limit for entry into Pre-U classes, those with an aggregate of more than 20 points will not be admitted. Every year a few thousand students do not have the opportunity to gain admission into the Pre-U classes. These students are too young to enter the labour market. They are at this stage about 16 years or so, and they have to wait for two years before they can be drafted into national service. So I would urge the Minister to consider setting up more commercial schools to absorb such students. At the present moment. Sir, the Adult Education Board is running classes to absorb these students. But the number of classes is too small for the purpose. Furthermore, the Adult Education Board is borrowing empty classrooms in certain schools only. The number of classes is not enough to meet the requirements of Secondary IV students. Commercial schools run by private individuals are charging very high fees. Poor families cannot afford the fees.

Thirdly, I would like to ask the Minister whether he is prepared to relax the restriction on the entry of students from other countries, particularly from ASEAN countries. At the present moment, we allow children of work permit holders to come to Singapore to study in our schools. Other applicants are not allowed, Since we have a surplus of classrooms and school accommodation and since students from foreign countries have contributed to our education fund, we should relax the conditions for their entry. This is good for them and good for us, because our education system will be shown to its advantage.

Fourthly, I would like to ask the Minister whether he will consider constructing a secondary school in the Sembawang part of Marsiling district because at the present moment the secondary schools are too far away from Woodlands, being in Bukit Panjang. Chua Chu Kang and Jurong. For students living in Woodlands New Town, it is very inconvenient for them to travel a long distance to Jurong and other neighbouring areas. So I feel that there is a need for a secondary school to be built in the Woodlands New Town.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: Sir, quite often criticisms against the Ministry of Education have been heavy. But then we must accept some of the changes in the policies which have been introduced now and again as they are justified because of our country's needs. Otherwise, we shall be carrying on with the colonial style and methods of teaching, in which case the Ministry of Education will be in the good books. But then what would happen to the other sectors, especially when the students have completed their studies from schools and are looking for jobs? Well, this is the main reason why the educational system has been revised every now and then so as to improve its effectiveness to suit the country's needs. The present aim in education is to strengthen moral and civic education in order to raise the effectiveness of the education system. So, there should be a limit to the questioning of our education policies, like the learning of languages and the teaching of technical education, the revision of the system of primary education, the abolition of automatic promotion and the introduction of the basic courses to teach pupils to read and write in one language and who cannot cope with the standard course.

Sir, whilst we speak about the second language, I wonder whether the Ministry is aware of a new kind of problem we face Some schools are making use of language as an excuse to put the Malay and Tamil students into one class while the Chinese are put in the other classes. Thus, throughout their school life, some students may not have a chance to integrate with the other students. The little integration that we find in schools now is very superficial. This is in a way against our cultural policy of integrating all the races into a Singaporean group. Furthermore, many schools, particularly the popular ones and the mission schools, are not teaching Tamil as a second language. These schools play a smart game. By not engaging a Tamil teacher, they claim that Tamil cannot be offered in their schools and thus cunningly keep the Tamil students out of these schools. The Minister may reply that the response of Tamil students in the schools is very poor and that is why there is no pro vision for Tamil education. But I would like to tell the Minister that many Tamil students were refused registration because of the lame excuse by the school authorities that the response in the school for Tamil teaching is poor. In fact, the students were told of this one or two at a time. Just imagine, if there were 100 students and they were given one or two at a time, the lame excuse of poor response, then how are we going to promote Tamil language in schools? In this way. Tamil students would be deprived of the learning of this language in the schools.

Sir, I would like to know the Minister's views regarding the posting of teachers to Chinese schools from English medium schools? I have been told that some teachers who were supposed to be loaned to the Chinese schools have literally been "dumped" into rural schools and they have become the forgotten ones. Since these teachers are not happy to be "dumped" to the rural schools, why not alternatively post teachers to Chinese schools by rotation so that the teachers do not rot.

Sir, why is it that some schools, especially in the rural areas, still do not have telephones? Is it because the principals purposely do not request the installation of a telephone although lines are available? If there is a telephone, it may be that they will have to every now and then answer telephone calls from parents. That is the reason why they refuse to instal a telephone. I understand that some principals of the rural schools do not want to instal a telephone simply because they do not want the Ministry officials to contact them every now and then. In this way, there will be very little communication between the Ministry and the school administration. I wonder how often the Inspectors of Schools go round to these schools to spot check on what is exactly happening there. I also gather that some of the Inspectors do not visit these schools frequently because of the distance from the Ministry.

Sir, I would also like to know how often does the Ministry of Education issue syllabuses to schools because many schools are still using the 1976 syllabus, and not the current one. Is there any standardisation of the syllabus in schools?

Sir, I wonder how the secondary schools, especially the Secondary IV level, are functioning. We do agree that there is a shortage of teachers and therefore relief teachers are employed every now and then. But then some sort of control must be maintained in the teaching of subjects in the Secondary IV level because it is more or less a crucial year to decide a student's future career. I understand that due to many problems in the school, like resignation of teachers and secondment to work on certain projects and assignments, the performance of the students seems to fall under the different teachers.

6.00 p.m.

I know of a case last year in a secondary school where just to teach a science subject there were five different teachers teaching the subject. One after another came to teach the subject at the Secondary IV level. There were four teachers teaching one subject. How can they cope up with the students? This is like changing shirts. However, I gathered that in the end the result of that class in that subject was very poor. This is because of the complication resulting from the changing of teachers. This anomaly must be checked.

Sir, we have been complaining that there is a shortage of teachers in schools. Sometime ago there was some publicity for the recruitment of teachers from Britain for our Singapore schools. You do not get them from the commonwealth countries but from Britain. How far have we been successful in the recruitment? Have we managed to get the foreign teachers to increase the strength of the teaching staff. Why are we recruiting teachers from Britain only? Britain is not the only English-speaking country in the world. There are other countries too which are closer to Singapore and they could also be considered. It may also be cheaper to employ teachers from these countries in the long run. Could the Minister comment on this?

Sir, when is the next promotion exercise due for the teachers? A few years ago the former Education Minister said that it would be an annual affair. But. actually, the exercise took place only twice in the last four years or so. It was due last year. But nothing has happened. Is this going to be another heartbreaking waiting exercise? As it is, the morale and standard in the teaching profession seem to be low. Is it necessary to make it worse? If you do not give them promotion, what interest do they have in teaching? They would not have the interest to teach. You must give them promotion because they have already suffered a lot. If you do not, they will resign. They would not want to teach. They would just ask the students to learn themselves.

At times the Ministry tends to be slow in dealing with finance. I will just quote an example. Some teachers who invigilated the main examinations in November have not yet been paid. Four months have already passed and even the results have been released. Yet no payment has been made. Why is there a delay? Is it because the Minister for Finance has not given the money? That is the excuse. The Minister for Finance has not given the money and therefore they cannot pay them.

Sir, what has happened to the `Use your Hands' Campaign launched in our schools? There was a lot of publicity but little activity. Is this going to be another "Much ado about Nothing Campaign"? Many schools have taken this campaign seriously. All they seem to care for is some publicity in the school magazines, the press and the TV. What have we really achieved? What measures are being taken to ensure that there is continuity in the "Use Your Hands" campaign? But I would suggest to the Minister not to take only the boy scouts to clean the schools. All boys must help to clean the schools. They say, "You are a scout; you are not going around to collect money. Now, you come to the school to clean." They have to clean the schools every now and then. How many days in a week do they call the boy scouts to clean the schools. It is very unfair. You can call them for one day or two days to come and clean the schools. But if you ask them to come and clean the schools throughout the week, they do not have the time to study?

The Minister of State for Labour (Mr Sia Kah Hui): Victimisation.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: That is very bad. The parents are having a headache.

An hon. Member: Free labour service.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: Yes, free labour service. Whenever you can save money, you save. When you have to give money, you cannot give.

Mr Sia Kah Hui: Complain to the Ministry of Education.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: Although the teachers have invigilated in the examinations, they have not been paid. Yet they ask the school boys to clean the schools for free. What is this? Is this reasonable? We have so many workers. Why cannot the cleaning service be paid by the Government? Each school has its own fund. Why cannot it be used to pay the labourers to clean the schools? No doubt at one time there was the "Use your hands" campaign. The children must know how to work. I agree. But they can work for one day. You can make them clean the schools for one day. But they should be free for the rest of the week. They should rest at home.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: They must rest.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: They do not have a rest. The Minister is writing something on a paper. It is just theoretical, not practical. Everything is theory. You are putting it in writing. When the head of department says something, you say yes. Because they give you an explanation, it is OK, and you sign the memorandum. The Minister's work is finished.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Very simple!

Mr P. Govindaswamy: Yes, very simple. This campaign, if followed properly, would lead to a self-servicing system of maintaining the schools. In this way schools can help a great deal in cutting down the costs of maintenance and get rid of the "tidak apa" attitude. You know what is "tidak apa"? What does it mean? "Couldn't care less".

Mr Chua Sian Chin: What about in Tamil?

Mr P. Govindaswamy: Paravaillai. It is high time educationists took this campaign to heart and realise its great importance to the future of Singapore.

Sir, to safeguard the public interest in private schools, correspondence schools, special educational schools and kindergartens, what steps are being taken to ensure that they are licensed? What steps are being taken to ensure that they do not cheat our students? Of late there seems to be a mushrooming of commercial schools in Singapore. It seems to be an easy way of making a `quick buck'.

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I have spoken about Tamil language and even the Prime Minister has referred to it in his reply to the Presidential Address - no students, no teachers. But in this case there is a teacher and there are students, why were they not allowed to open a Tamil class? When a Tamil boy goes to that school, they say. "No Tamil class". You must check every school. I have been repeating it. I am very fed up about it. You want everybody to know a second language in a multi-racial society, a multi lingual society. So you must give the second language a chance.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: What is the name of that school?

Mr P. Govindaswamy: I do not want to mention the school.

Mr Ho Kah Leong (Jurong): (In Mandarin): Sir, first let me touch on the Government's bilingual policy of the education system in Singapore. The formulation, implementation and promotion of this bilingual policy has generally received the support of parents, educationists and educational organisations concerned. Not very long ago the Government promulgated its decision to raise the language standard of pre-university classes. This is an indication of the Government's determination in implementing the teaching of second languages. To my knowledge, all the schools are trying their best to promote the teaching of second language, particularly the Chinese schools, in order to reach the prescribed standard set by the Ministry of Education, I remember in 1972 when the bilingual policy was implemented, it was stipulated that the teaching of the first language in all the schools should be 75% of the total number of hours and the second language exposure time should be 25%. And thereafter the second language exposure time would be increased to 33%, 40% and 50% in three years' time. This is all in keeping with the principles of learning. But up till now I have found that the number of teaching hours for second language in certain schools has not reached 30%. This matter is worth our attention. Since bilingualism is our policy we must thoroughly implement this policy. We should not do it perfunctorily. We should not allow the issue to be circumvented. The substance and principle of bilingualism should be understood not only by the principals and teachers but also by all the officers in the Ministry of Education in order to facilitate the promotion of this policy without aberration. I have discovered that in some new Government schools the school signboards are written in only one language. Perhaps this is due to the officers in charge not being able to understand the bilingual policy.

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, in order to promote the teaching of second language effectively there is a need for good teachers, good teaching materials, adequate language laboratories and related equipment. According to my knowledge, in the Chinese schools particularly the rural schools in far away places, there is a serious shortage of good second language teachers. I do not know whether the Ministry concerned intends to rectify this situation. As regards teachers teaching in rural schools in distant rural areas, would the Ministry consider giving them some transport allowance?

Sir, this year's slogan for the House is "From each his best; to each his worth." This is in keeping with the fundamental principles of democratic socialism, and this slogan is applicable to all professions and trades alike, including the teaching profession. The original intention of the Ministry of Education in the last two promotion exercises for teachers was to promote some educationists who were meritorious and deserving. But, because of certain aberrations in the process, they resulted in dissatisfaction to many and satisfaction only to some. Some meritorious teachers who have contributed their best whether inside or outside the school have not been called even for an interview. So how do you prevent people from feeling that "from each his best" is useless or it will be in vain in their case. So. I hope the Ministry concerned will be more careful in the promotion exercise so as to be able to actually carry out the principle and objective of "from each his best and to each his worth".

In our school system, there are the principal, senior teachers and subject directors. They shoulder more onerous duties and they have to do their duties over a longer period of time, particularly the principal who will have to be involved in all kinds of work big or small, even out of school activities. Whether or not they have anything to do with the school, the principals will have to be present and be responsible. This is both time-consuming and a waste of money. The principal cannot even enjoy the school vacation that is enjoyed by the school servants. In the past there was the post allowance given to a principal according to the size of the school. The post allowance was a kind of award to the principal which could serve as an entertainment allowance. But since the 1971 restructure of salary scales, this post allowance was abolished, This time last year. according to the Minister of State, his Ministry was considering reviving this post allowance, but it has been more than one year now. I wonder whether any decision has been arrived on this.

6.15 p.m.

Recently, the Ministry of Education has issued certain syllabuses and notices to schools for their reference, and sometimes the Ministry has also conducted courses for school management personnel to participate. This is a good phenomenon. The school management personnel shoulder onerous tasks. If the Ministry want them to take part in meetings and attend courses, then they must make sure that these are useful to them and have some bearing on them. Otherwise it is a waste of time and effort if the school personnel do not benefit from it, and the officer in charge in the Ministry will also be blamed.

Sir, the issue of notices by the Ministry of Education to schools is a common thing. However, one should not abuse this and also it must be ascertained that the notices are useful before they are issued. Moreover, the notices should be signed by the officer in charge and not by somebody else on his behalf. because that will be an indication that nobody would dare to be responsible for the notices. If that is the case, the Ministry might as well not issue any notices at all. For, otherwise how do they expect the schools to comply with the notices? I hope the Senior Minister of State will urge his Ministry to pay attention to this.

Mr Ch'ng Jit Koon: I am not speaking, Sir.

Mr Sia Khoon Seong (Moulmein): Sir, on 27th December 1976, just a few days before the current school year commenced on 3rd January, 1977, the Education Ministry announced that Technical Drawing and Basic Electricity would be dropped from the Secondary I curriculum. The number of periods per week would be reduced from 44 to 40 periods per week as a result of that. This, according to the Ministry, would take off some of the learning load from the Secondary I students. No one, least of all me, would disagree with the Education Ministry that, where possible, we should lighten the learning load of our students provided, in so doing, we are in no way sacrificing some of our short as well as long term educational objectives.

For several years, Secondary I and Secondary II students were required to do these subjects. At the time when these subjects were introduced, there must have been good reasons why this was done, or are we to be told now that this was not so. If there were good reasons then, are these reasons no more valid today? Who are these men in the Shelley Committee who have come to the conclusion that it is in the best interests of the children that these subjects should be dropped? What is their background? Apart from their technical qualifications and expertise, are they conversant with our overall educational policies and objectives? What is the essence of their findings that made the Education Ministry drop these subjects? Why did the Ministry not release their report so that the validity of their arguments and the basis of their findings could be confirmed as sound by other experts of equal standing? Why is all the secrecy surrounding the Shelley Report?

Of course, the move is popular with the parents as it will mean less periods for their children to study and worry about passing the examinations of these subjects. Would the Education Ministry like to be more popular with the parents by setting up a committee like the Shelley Committee to review whether it should also drop woodwork and metalwork from the Secondary I curriculum? Would the Ministry consider setting up a committee to review whether we should reduce the load of extracurricular activities in schools? And lastly, would the Education Ministry also consider setting up a committee to review whether the education system can be less examination-orientated? The Minister may think that I am being frivolous, but I can assure him I am not. The issues that I have just raised are issues of great interest and importance to parents as they can affect their children's welfare and well-being in schools.

Before I conclude, may I ask the Minister how much money the various secondary schools had to spend on buying the technical drawing instruments from the Secondary I students, because the announcement came after they had bought the instruments? What do the schools intend to do with these instruments?

Mr Hwang Soo Jin: (In Mandarin): Sir, I would like to support what the Member for Jurong has said about post allowances for school principals. I think this issue has been debated in the past in this House. But until today we have only heard the sound of footsteps coming down from the staircase without seeing anybody coming down. In view of the maxim "to each according to his worth", I feel there should be some solution so as to carry this out well and not shove the responsibility to the Ministry of Finance. That is not right.

There is another issue. I have found that in the implementation of education policies, it seems there has been an over-reaction by officials of the Ministry of Education. For instance, last year when we were discussing matters relating to the Ministry of Education, everybody was saying that the Ministry had no liaison with the schools. Not long after the Ministry began to ring up all the schools everyday asking the teachers to take part in meetings, to take part in discussions and so on, all kinds of meetings. Even in the rural schools, in one day alone all the four or five teachers in the school were called up for meetings, leaving no one to run the classes. This is too much. The reaction from the officials has been much too great. This will have to be rectified. If officials of the Ministry of Education could accept the opinions aired here by MPs, of course, it would be most welcome. But over-reaction is not a good symptom. So I hope the Minister will pay attention to this point.

There is another problem, and that is a personal one. In some schools, there are teachers who think that pupils must get some private tuition at home to catch up. I could not help it. I have to look after my own children. In my own experience of teaching my children. I found that there is no certain standard set for the simplified version of Chinese characters. For instance, in Primary I they used the character wu ( ) (noon) to indicate the wu ( ) in tiao wu ( ) which means dancing. When my children attended Primary II the teacher told them that they could not use the same character to mean "dancing", tiao wu which has the same sound as the wu we use in xia wu ( ) for "afternoon". So one is not sure what simplified Chinese characters can or cannot be used now. So in the dictation tests the children cannot get 100 marks. When they get home, the parents will blame the children for not being able to get 100 marks. And if the parents were to ask the teachers, they would say that it is the parents who have taught their children the wrong words. So there must be a certain standard. Which simplified version is the correct one? Should it be our version, or should it be the version from mainland China? Or from Taiwan? (I am told there is no simplified writing in Taiwan, but I am not aware of it.) Perhaps this simplified form now in use here has come from Nantah. This is an important matter. This has been bothering the parents for quite a long time and has eroded their confidence. No wonder the enrolment figures in the Chinese primary schools have been decreasing year after year, because every school is using different textbooks. I am wondering, since Singapore is so small, why the schools are using different textbooks everyday. The books are being changed. This is a very important matter to look into.

Sir, thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak.

The Senior Minister of State for Education (Mr Chai Chong Yii): (In Mandarin): Sir, the Member for Sembawang has brought up several questions. He touched on full-day schooling, the setting up of commercial schools, and so on. He has even asked for a relaxation of rules for the entry of foreign students into Singapore schools. He has also requested for new secondary schools to be built at Woodlands in his constituency. So I have to answer his queries one after the other briefly.

The full-day school system is good, I agree. But the question is whether we have enough schools to run the system. If he thinks of asking those schools which have accommodation or vacancies and within their manpower resources to run full-day session then he will have a lot of problems. For example, for a full-day school it will start from 9 a.m. and end about 2 or 3 p.m. That means the students have to have lunch in the school and this will present a problem to anxious parents. The teachers and the students will also come across unexpected problems. Our basic policy is that if a school can cope with a full-day session with its available accommodation and resources, well, it can go-ahead if it wants.

As regards commercial schools, the Adult Education Board has four centres running commercial classes in the day time. They are at Kim Keat Centre. Mountbatten Centre, Hai Sing Dewasa Institute and Stamford Girls' School. This year we are going to have another school. We now have more than 2,000 students attending such classes in the day time. And if we include students in the evening classes, it will come to about 9,000. Of those Secondary IV students who are not able to join Pre-University classes, some are attending the evening classes run by the Adult Education Board. Others join the technical classes in the Vocational Institutes under the Industrial Training Board. They go for the ITC, i.e. Industrial Technician Certificates. So we have quite many outlets for such students. But, of course, we shall continue to pay attention to these students because we do not want these people to idle. They are not idling as alleged by the Member for Sembawang. At the moment, we are also studying the secondary school system. We have said so a few days ago when answering a question by the Member for Punggol. We are looking into this matter to see whether every student can continue to study until the age of 18 years. This is a long-term matter which requires careful consideration. Of course, we have to tailor our needs within our limited financial resources.

As regards the relaxation of entry qualifications for foreign students into Singapore schools. I will say that the present requirements do provide for the easy entrance of students from ASEAN countries. Of course, students from non-ASEAN countries will have to comply with stricter requirements. Those students who comply with the requirements and can catch up with the standards in our schools, we do accommodate them. Further relaxation will not be of help to anybody because some of the students may not be able to cope with our syllabus requirements here. We have also limited vacancies in our schools. Some kind of balance has to be struck. At present, we do not propose to relax further the entry qualifications for foreign students.

6.30 p.m.

Next, dealing with the question of a new secondary school in the Marsiling area. I would like to tell the Member for Sembawang that we propose to build a new secondary school in Woodlands New Town but it is not in his constituency. It is in Bukit Panjang. Although it is not in his constituency, the students in his constituency can go to the new school that is to be built there.

The Member for Anson has numerous sources of information and so he has a lot of matters to bring up in this House. It is good of him to speak for his constituents, and we pay him all the respect due. But sometimes he raises so many questions that if they are not answered will give rise to misunderstanding. The Member for Anson has raised 11 points. His first point was in relation to the learning of the Tamil language. This is an annual affair, but I can assure the Member that this is not to be taken as a joke. We have given this matter our serious consideration. We give equal treatment to the learning of all the four official languages. There is no discrimination against any particular language. It is up to the parents to choose the language. The second language or the first language is entirely the free choice of parents, and we give them all the assistance available and possible. But sometimes because of certain limitations, we have problems. We have instructed schools to accept enrolment of Tamil students, but whether we have enough students to run a Tamil class is a different matter. If we have only two or three students, we cannot run a class for them. This is the main crux of the matter. He cannot say that the principal does not accept Tamil students. Probably it is because of the language problem that there is a misunderstanding. The principal may say that if there are not enough students to justify a class he may not have a Tamil class for the learning of Tamil language. This may lead to some kind of unintentional misunderstanding. After some clarification I hope the Member will not raise the matter again next year. I can assure him that there is no discrimination against any language. Tamil is a long standing language with a long historical and cultural background. Although I may not know Tamil, which is the only official language I do not know. I can assure him that there is no discrimination of any sort.

The next point the Member raised is in relation to our transferring of teachers from English stream to rural schools, and forgetting about them entirely. We have no intention to forget such teachers. Every teacher gets paid. So we cannot forget them, otherwise they get no pay at all. But there are problems in regard to transfers. Most of the teachers live in Housing and Development Board flats and in the urban areas. Many of them do not like to go to schools in the rural areas. But students in the rural areas are also entitled to go to schools. That is the problem. So we have to send some teachers to the rural areas and we hope that these teachers will accept their transfer as a challenge to shoulder their responsibility as a teacher to educate the children in the rural areas. Of course, facilities in the rural schools may not be as good as those in the urban areas. But rural people are more friendly and they respect the teachers more. I was a teacher in a rural school some 20 years ago and I know that the rural people are more friendly and understanding and there has been no change in this attitude. Teachers sent to the rural areas may lose materially but spiritually they may be compensated for, I hope.

The Member for Jurong has also spoken on the question of teachers in rural schools. He asked whether we could give them transport allowance. No. we cannot give them transport allowance. This matter was raised and debated before, and the Ministry of Finance had opposed it strongly. If we give the teachers transport allowance, then what about the others? Moreover, it is already stated in the terms and conditions of service that teachers are liable to be transferred anywhere in Singapore. Of course, we try to be fair but sometimes fairness is very hard to gauge. It depends on the stand taken. If he considers himself weightier than others, then he wants to be treated more fairly. It is a difficult problem. So we are trying to find a better solution. The Member for Anson says that they can go by rotation. This is one point that we have considered. But we have not come to any decision so far. We can only hope for the time being that those teachers who have been posted to the rural areas will be conscientious and forbearing enough to consider the educational needs of children in the rural areas and continue to teach happily.

Next we come to the telephone in the rural schools. Some schools in the rural areas are without telephones. But they form only a small number. To generalize is to create misunderstanding. We have altogether some 500 schools in Singapore but only 26 schools are without telephone facilities. Of the 26 schools, 9 are in surrounding islands, and the remaining 17 are all in very remote areas. Some of these schools could have telephones installed. They are small aided schools. Perhaps some of these schools feel that there is no need for a telephone and they do not apply for a telephone. I do not think that it is because they do not want communication with the Ministry's officials. Telephones are not for communication with the Ministry alone but there are other uses.

About visits by school inspectors. Of course, the Education Development Officers and the Specialist Advisers do visit all schools in Singapore. They have a certain schedule to keep; those schools with more problems will have more visits, while the rural schools which do not have so many problems will have less visits, But they are visited at least once or twice a year.

The Member for Anson quoted one example of changing teachers in Secondary IV classes. I do not know which particular school or class he was referring to. I can say that, in principle, we advise principals to avoid changing teachers in the Secondary IV classes. We appreciate that it is not good to change teachers, especially during the crucial time when it is so close to the Secondary IV final examinations. But sometimes changes are inevitable. For example, a teacher may be successful in his application for a scholarship. And we cannot stop him from going on a scholarship. As far as possible we avoid changing teachers at the Secondary IV class level. If the changes are too frequent, perhaps there is something wrong with the principal. If there was such a case, it should be reported to me and I will look into the matter to see if I could be of any help to the principal to put it right. There are merits and demerits of the individual. It may be that some principals have a special reason for changing teachers; we do not know.

Next comes the question of recruitment of teachers from England. England is the native land of the English language. Of course, we do not deny the existence of other English-speaking countries. We do recruit teachers from New Zealand. Australia and other English-speaking countries. But this is on a short term basis, not a long term one. We are giving them contracts of two to three years after which time we hope to be able to solve our teacher-shortage problem. Most of the teachers recruited are teachers of English from these countries. According to their performance in the schools, we can say that their response has been fair. Since they are expatriates, we will pay special attention to them.

About promotion exercises, we have only had two promotion exercises in the past four years. We should have one last year but we are now in the course of preparing another promotion exercise. This matter, as mentioned by the Member for Jurong and supported by the Member for Jalan Kayu, is tied up with the consideration for the post allowance for principals and other related matters. Promotion will give rise to the question of fairness as also mentioned by the Member for Jurong. It is very difficult to satisfy everyone, and that is the reason why there is some delay in the next promotion exercise which I believe will come up sometime this year.

On fees payable to invigilators, the complaint is that fees have not been paid up to this day. If this is true, then something is wrong. As far as I know. fees for invigilators are paid within two months of the examination. I have made some enquiry into the delay and have found that some 85% have already been paid. We have about 13,000 sets of claims to check, All this checking contributes to the delay. There is no good justification for the delay in the payment of fees for as long as four months or more. Normally fees should be paid within two months, which is long enough. Something must be wrong somewhere, and I will take note of this.

The Member for Anson also referred to the "Use your hands" campaign. I can assure him that the Ministry has no intention to get free labour from the students. We never have this intention. The schools do not have the intention to retrench any of the workers either. This campaign is only one link in the educational process where we get students to experience the use of their hands. The poor children never grumble about using their hands because they are used to it at home. Those who are well-to-do and do not do any manual work at home, however, are the true target of this campaign. This is the category of students that we want to educate. I hope they will start to learn something. Let us take Japan as an example. Even the children of owners of business establishments have to start from the most junior position before they can be promoted. We should emulate this spirit. In our schools, we also have children from millionaire families who do not have to lift a finger to do any household work. In the schools, however, they have to be educated on the use of their hands. I hope they will appreciate this as part of their education and not treat it as being used for free labour, otherwise the significance of the campaign will be totally lost.

6.45 p.m.

In June last year we conducted the first "Use your hands" campaign, and we intend to carry out this campaign in the middle of every year in the schools. It may not be on a national basis but we may ask the MPs of the respective areas to help in the "Use your hands" campaign to be carried out in the schools. When that time comes, we might ask the Member for Anson to go to the schools in his constituency to help run the campaign.

On private schools, kindergartens and correspondence schools, they have to be registered under the Education Act and they have to seek approval of the fees payable by the students. We are paying attention to this. The Member mentioned the numerous commercial schools that are being run on a profit-making basis. It is because they are in great demand at present. The Adult Education Board is running more and more commercial classes and will provide better facilities and other courses for the public. If members of the public still want to go to private commercial schools, it is up to them. It is entirely their own choice. But I believe the Adult Education Board will greatly expand its facilities in future.

On the bilingual policy referred to by the Member for Jurong, I would say that bilingual education is one of the basic policies of our education system. There will be no change. But because of a shortage of teachers and other problems, some schools may not be able to meet the required percentage of exposure time. This is a practical problem. Ideally, we would like to see a balance at 50% exposure time for each of the two languages without a lowering of the standard of either language, but it is not possible `to achieve uniform performance in educational pursuits because different people have different make-ups and linguistic aptitudes.

There is one other point raised by the Member for Anson which I overlooked just now. This is on syllabus. He asked whether there is a standard or unified syllabus. I would say yes. If he is aware of any schools still using the old syllabus and textbooks, he should let me know, then I will make a check.

The Member for Jurong mentioned the question of post-allowance and salaries for principals. The Member for Jalan Kayu has also raised a similar matter. Consideration of this matter is now in its final stages, and the Public Service Commission, the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Finance are now looking into the final details before the implementation. So the complaint of false alarm will soon be proved wrong.

Regarding the language of school names mentioned by the Member for Jurong, our present policy is this. The signboards may be in one language or with other languages. In newly-built Government schools, the languages for the signboard will be as many as the languages used in the school concerned. There will always be a Chinese name for every new school, because Chinese language is not romanized, though sometimes its Chinese name may not be painted on the wall. Names of schools are permissible in different languages. It is up to the principal to decide. There is no compulsion. For initial painting we have given instruction to the PWD that if it is a bilingual integrated school, then the name of the school will be in English and Chinese or English and Malay according to the language streams adopted in that school.

The Member for Jurong also raised the point that notices are not signed by senior officials. I have to clarify that we have two types of notices to schools; one is notification and the other is circular. Notification will carry the name of the issuing unit and the officer-in-charge, sometimes even telephone numbers are stated for easy contact. Circulars definitely will be signed and the name of the issuing officer is also stated therein. This is also to facilitate contact. Whether it is really necessary for the senior officer himself to sign all the circulars, depends on the nature of the communication. If it is so important or such that it requires the signature of the senior officer, then he will sign the letter himself. But if it is a very routine matter, then it will be a waste of time to make it compulsory for the senior officer to sign it. Of course, no disrespect is meant to the principals concerned.

The Member for Moulmein mentioned that recently the Ministry of Education announced the change in Secondary I syllabus by leaving out courses on technical drawing and basic electricity. The department concerned had made a careful study before taking such action. It was not cancelled just for the sake of cancelling it. As regards technical drawing. this is still taught in the subject Workshop Practice, but not as a separate subject as before. From our study we found that although it is useful to learn this subject, the time factor does not permit it and the students could learn them at a later stage. This is the main reason why we are doing away with the subject.

As regards basic electricity, we feel that it is not necessary for them to study it at this stage. The Shelley Committee had considered this subject together with other courses such as metalwork, carpentry and woodworking, and had decided to leave out basic electricity as a separate subject. The Member also asked about the composition of this committee and the publication of its report. This is an internal working committee, and therefore we feel that it is not necessary to publish its report. The Chairman of this Committee is Mr Shelley and he is a private engineer. Another member on the Committee is also a private engineer. There is one representative each from the University of Singapore, the Singapore Polytechnic and the Industrial Training Board. In addition, there are three representatives from our own Ministry: one is in charge of curriculum, one is in charge of technical education and the other acts as the secretary. These are the people who are conversant with the situation in the schools.

He also asked two more questions: one is whether we should have another committee to look into the question of extra-curricular activities. I feel that for the, time being it is not necessary to do so because we have already paid attention to matters relating thereto and how to relieve the burden of the students. The other question is whether we are paying too much attention on examinations for students. It seems that every student is studying only for the examination, and he asked if we could reduce the burden of the students in this respect, at least psychologically. I feel that this matter is worth studying. The series of actions taken by the Ministry of Education lately is part and parcel of a policy in this direction, such as, not publishing the examination results and candidates' names. Consideration will be given on whether to set up an internal committee to study psychological pressure on students regarding examinations, and how to relieve the pressure. But it is not possible to do away with examinations entirely. At present, there is no other alternative. I do not think anybody will really request the abolition of examinations for students. What we can do is to reduce as far as possible the psychological pressure of examinations on students.

He also asked about the recent announcement regarding the schools' intention to buy back technical drawing sets bought by Secondary I students. I do not have the exact figures with me. According to my knowledge, the number bought back by the schools did not amount to more than 500 pieces totalling some $2,000 altogether. But these materials can still be used by students of higher classes later and they are not a waste.

The Member for Jalan Kayu also mentioned several points. Of course, I have already touched on the post allowance for principals which is in the final stages of consideration before any action will be taken. As regards over-reaction by the officials in the Ministry of Education. I think it is quite common with the civil service. Of course, I agree that it is not reasonable to call up all four or five teachers in one day from a small rural school for a meeting. If there is such an incident. I hope the MP concerned will inform me so that I can take steps to rectify it. But he cannot just pick up one or two instances and generalise it on the whole body of officers in the Ministry of Education. As we all cherish self-respect, so in cases like this, we need some discussion among us in order to better resolve the problem or rectify the matter.

He also asked whether the Chinese simplified form wu () of the characters xia wu () (afternoon) could be used for the wu () in tiao wu () (dancing). We simplified about 500 characters at the first stage of simplification. The second stage has expanded to cover more characters. When implemented in full, some confusion is inevitable. On the whole, these simplified versions are borrowed from China as we are too small a nation to produce on our own. But there are a few simplified forms which are only used locally and not in other places. It is difficult for us to abolish such local simplified forms developed through usage, because language is a matter of usage peculiar to a habitat. When the new textbooks are out. I hope they will use only the unified version so that the simplified forms will be standardised and then there will be less confusion. Old texts, if used, will of course lead to such problems which we are trying to avoid.

On the question of different varieties of textbooks used by different schools, it is again a delicate problem. They all have been approved by my Ministry. If we try to reduce the variety of textbooks into just two or three, this will also lead to problems. After some study, my Ministry found that at the moment we could not standardise the textbooks. For the time being we are not taking further action on the matter.

Having spoken thus far. I think I have covered all the points raised.

7.00 p.m.

Mr P. Govindaswamy: (In Tamil): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the Minister of State for Education has expressed certain views and I understand them. In English schools they say that there are no places for Tamil because there are not enough children wanting to study Tamil. This has been said before and again today. I think this is not true because this Government has given equal status to the four languages, and the policy is that students should study two languages. So to say that there are not enough teachers and not enough students is not right. A circular should be issued to all schools to find out how many Tamil students there are and the Tamil students should be told that they should take Tamil as a second language. The Ministry of Education should take a census to find out the position. I do not say that all schools should teach Tamil as a second language. But where there are many students, Tamil should be taught. If you do not give a place for Tamil language, then there is no meaning to the equal status of the four languages. The Ministry should adopt this method. It is not the duty of the parents but the duty of the Ministry, because parents think that it is enough if they study any language so long as they can earn a living. The Ministry should insist that Tamil children should study Tamil. Only then will Tamil get a proper place. I am insisting on this point. I have a duty to tell this. The Ministry should not repeat the same tune and say that there are not enough teachers and not enough students. They have to do something and insist on the Tamil children learning Tamil. I make this request humbly.

Next, the Minister of State has said something about telephones. He has said that 26 schools do not have telephones. I do not know about this. But there should be a telephone in every school because if all of a sudden there is a fire, what are they going to do? How are they going to inform the fire brigade? They can do it only when there is a telephone. So they should see that there is a telephone in every school. Suppose there is an accident and a student is injured. If there is no telephone in that rural school, how are they going to send the child to the hospital? Everybody knows that a telephone is important. For emergency there should be a telephone, especially in schools, because there may be some dangerous incident or there may be some risk of danger. There could be fights and there could be injuries as a result. So if there is a telephone they could use it to call the police immediately or the ambulance. The Ministry will have to look into this matter urgently.

There is another question regarding promotions. The Minister of State is repeating the same story. Every year he tells the same thing. He is not implementing it in the correct way. I do not know when he is going to implement it. Only God knows. The Minister of State does not know it. Only God knows. I do not know how they are going to get their promotions. If he insists that teachers should teach properly he should pay them well. Only then will they do their duty well. If a teacher were to do his duty properly, the first thing is that he should have courage. But where can he get the courage from! Only if he is financially satisfied, can he teach properly.

Next, the question of allowance. There are cases where a teacher has taught for a few months and he has not got his allowance. He has given his best. He has sweated it out and he has taught the students. He expects to be paid but he has not got his pay. But the Minister of State says, "We will investigate this." There are 10,000 teachers. How is he going to investigate? This is the answer given by him. I am not joking. These are facts. The teachers should be paid. A teacher living in Katong is transferred to Pasir Panjang, and another who lives in Pasir Panjang is transferred to Katong. As far as possible, the teachers should be posted to the schools in the area in which they live. He has to think about this.

We have to satisfy the teachers. Only then will they work hard. For example, in 1941. Bevan, the Labour Minister, was a teacher. He said that "you should do everything for the workers". So he went to the industrial areas and made all arrangements to help the people. That is why he won after the Second World War. He is a trade unionist and he has got the experience. So the Minister of State has to think about all these things. Why am I telling him this? Unless he gives all the help to the teachers, the students will not learn properly. Who looks after the children in the schools? The teachers. They are looking after the future nation builders. So he has to give them salaries that satisfy them. Only then will they bring up the children properly. They will mould the children into good citizens. I hope the Minister will take the necessary action.

Mr Chai Chong Yii: (In Mandarin): Sir, today I speak in Mandarin in this Chamber not because I purposely do not want him to understand me. Earlier I had already told him that I would be speaking in Mandarin because basically as I am educated in Chinese I am more conversant with the language. If I speak in English I might unconsciously mislead him. Since he is much older than many of us naturally we have a respect for him. Whatever he has said in this House is quite reasonable and not without merit, and I respect its wisdom. But not everything can be realized or practical. I just respect everything that he has said for its worth. I have already given a reply to him and, if he has no objection, I do not want to repeat what I have said.

As regards the question of language and education, it will always occupy everybody's body and mind. Psychologically, it will even go deeper, and even affect one's soul and spirit. So I respect his opinion. I can just say that, wherever possible. I will take note of what he has said. Of course. I may not be able to satisfy him in all respects. Perhaps he will agree with me.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr Ong Soo Chuan): (In Mandarin): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, two days ago when we were debating on the allocation for the Ministry of Culture, the Member for Boon Lay said something which might mislead some people who are concerned with education or interested in matters of education. My colleague, the Senior Minister of State, may want to clarify in order to put the matter right. Let me quote what he had said as reported in his own newspaper, Nanyang Siang Pau of 17th March, 1977, at page 24. It is reported there that he had said that the Ministry of Education had decided to abolish automatic promotion and because of this action the Ministry of Education was quite embarrassed or ashamed of what it had done and would not dare to face people so that it had to resort to "stealthy measures". To borrow the favourite phrase just uttered as coming from my colleague, the Senior Minister of State, such statement if not answered "will be rather misleading". If it is not clarified. readers might have the impression that the Ministry of Education had decided to abolish automatic promotion because the Ministry itself was not sure of the matter. As a result, the losers would only be those who are interested in education. I hope my colleague here can clarify this point.

Mr Ngeow Pack Hua (Boon Lay): (In Mandarin): Sir, I feel that perhaps it is better for the Member for Nee Soon to quote the whole paragraph and not to quote it out of context. He should quote it at full length.

Mr Ong Soo Chuan: (In Mandarin): This is printed in the Nan yang Slang Pau where the Member is working. Does he want me to quote from the beginning? In order to save time. I will just read out this. He said:

`Let me, quote one example. Not long ago, the Ministry of Education decided to abolish the automatic promotion system. This is a very important decision. However, the Ministry was extremely embarrassed in having to make such a decision. So much so that it tried to do it stealthily.'

Does he want me to quote further? The paragraphs that follow refer to the Ministry of Culture. Anybody who is interested in it can read it. But now we are talking about education. So I just quote what is relevant. I hope my colleague can explain and clarify further so that people who are interested in education will not be misled.

Mr Hwang Soo Jin: (In Mandarin): Sir, we are rather confused as to who is in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and who is in the Ministry of Education. From what has just been said, I had taken the Senior Minister of State for Education to be in charge of Foreign Affairs. Likewise, from what the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs has spoken on education, I almost took him to be in the Ministry of Education! It is all quite puzzling.

I would like to ask the Senior Minister of State for Education a question on textbooks which I raised just now, as he did not give me a direct reply. He just said that it was not practical but did not explain further.

7.15 p.m.

Mr Chai Chong Yii: (In Mandarin): Sir, in fact when the Member for Boon Lay touched upon educational matters while speaking on Culture. I thought of giving him a reply. But thinking that one of the Eastern virtues which we are promoting as our education policy, is to be patient and tolerant. I stopped there. Talking about the Ministry of Education fighting shy of its own decision. I would say that all our policy decisions have always been taken only after careful consideration. So it is not a matter of fighting shy or engaging in double-talk. What happens is that while a certain policy decision is still not ripe for publicity, the newspaper reporters for their own reason had formed their own picture. So something reported in one newspaper could be different from what is reported in the other newspapers. That is quite common, and it does happen quite frequently, though not intentional. For this reason. I would not like to touch on it further. Otherwise there will be a lot to argue about without reaching any conclusion. When I first went to the Ministry. I told my officers that the first thing they must learn is how to take blame or reprimand calmly and in good spirit.

On the matter of textbooks, why we could not carry the policy further, is because everybody has a different view. No two principals can agree completely which textbook is better, and we would not like to take away from the principals this privilege to decide. At the moment, we are encouraging the principals to be more independent and to be better able to guide their schools. However, these textbooks are generally written out of the same syllabuses. So they cannot vary too great an extent, except in the style of writing perhaps. It rests with the principal to decide what textbooks to use. We would not like to revoke this power.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Sir, I thank the Senior Minister of State for Education for his patience in answering so many questions today. Just now the Member for Jalan Kayu sent a note to me suggesting that, with such a diplomatic attitude the Member for Nee Soon could be appointed as an Ambassador.

I would like to ask the Senior Minister of State to reply to this question. He says that he is very agreeable to the suggestion of a full-day school, but he did not say how to promote it. This shows that he is dubious about it, not giving any definite answer as to whether or not he wants to do something about it. I would like to ask whether the Ministry of Education itself would initiate the programme of full-day schooling. I understand that there is one Chinese high school which has started its own full-day schooling. Has the school consulted the Ministry of Education or has it done it on its own volition?

Mr Chai Chong Yii: (In Mandarin): Sir,I feel that the Member for Sembawang is not quite conversant with the meaning of full-day schooling. At the moment, the Anglican High School and a few other schools may be said to have full-day schooling because they do not have afternoon sessions. But this is not really full-day schooling.

In respect of The Chinese High School, it is not exactly a complete full-day school because the school session is only in the morning; in the afternoon there are no official classes. The teachers and students are allowed to continue to remain in the school for unofficial classes. It is just that. I say that if anything is good to the school, we allow it to carry on.

Sir, if we are going to have full-day schooling, then we will have to double the number of schools to accommodate the student population and we may not be able to find enough land. People from various parts of the world have enquired of our two-session education system wanting to learn from us.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Sir, can I ask the Senior Minister of State to tell us how to differentiate between what is official full-day schooling and what is unofficial or abnormal type of full-day schooling, and whether the Education Ministry has any long term policy of changing the system to official full-day schooling.

Mr Chai Chong Yii: (In Mandarin): Sir, in Singapore. since land is limited. I do not see the possibility of full-day schooling being implemented officially, because it involves schooling time up to 3 or 4 o'clock in the afternoon and the students have to stay for lunch in school. As regards unofficial or modified type of full-day schooling the students and some teachers are just staying back to give additional guidance to the students. So it is just random pick. In so far as the long term policy is concerned, Singapore as a whole cannot carry out the system of full-day schooling.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: (In Mandarin): Sir, I have waited so long for an opportunity to stand up and say a few words. The Senior Minister of State for Education has given quite satisfactory replies to the various points raised by Members. At least he has brought us a piece of good news, that is that remuneration of principals would be adjusted for their good and also in the middle of this year there will be a third promotion exercise for the teachers. I would like to ask whether he can tell us more details in this regard because there are still a few months before the middle of this year.

As regards the question of full-day schooling. I would like to air some of my own views here. Many people think that running a full-day school will help to better the quality of education. It is not really so, I think. As it is, we have morning sessions and afternoon sessions. I do not think there is anything seriously wrong with this system. At the moment, the students can use their other session for extra-curricular activities. I am not trying to argue for the Ministry of Education but according to my own personal experience and contact with educationists abroad, I can say that they rather admire our system of education, with two sessions in the schools. They have been praising Singapore for the success of its two-session schooling, thus making full use of the school's resources. And they want to learn this from us. I am saying that it is something true. So full-day schooling is only practical in places where the population is small but they have large stretches of land where they can have spacious accommodation for that system. In these places, if two-session schooling were to be implemented, the students will have to get up very early in the morning, say at 5.30 a.m. or so, or else they will miss the time for the first session to start, say at 7.30 a.m. In these places, there is a long travelling time between the school and the home, so the students have to stay back in school for lunch and reach home quite late after school. But in Singapore, it is so small that full-day schooling may not necessarily bring any good to our education system. This is my personal view.

There are other questions which I think I will avail myself of the opportunity to ask the Senior Minister of State to clarify. The Member for Anson has said that it is necessary for schools to have telephones. I support his view and I would like to ask the Senior Minister of State whether he has any intention of installing telephones in schools which do not have them now, particularly the schools in the islands around Singapore. Today when I read the newspaper I learn that TAS could also install radio telephones in cars, which have a range of 500 miles. So I feel that we can use this sort of radio telephone to reach the islands where telephone wires are not suitable.

As regards recruitment of teachers from Britain, I do not know whether the Ministry of Education is aware of the advantages or disadvantages of the teaching methods of these teachers. Perhaps we cannot say that their teaching method is no good but, as regards accent. I think it is greatly different from the accent of Singaporeans. I have heard the report that even our principals and teachers cannot understand the English as spoken by them. Perhaps some of these teachers have been recruited from Scotland or Ireland where the accent is so strong that it cannot be understood easily.

On the other issue of official communications. I feel that letters or notices to schools should be signed by the officer-in-charge and not just any subordinate officer signing on his behalf. If the senior officer-in-charge signs it personally, this will indicate that he is accepting the responsibility. He cannot consider it a waste of time to sign an official communication. It is his personal duty to do so. The matter of too many correspondence is another matter.

As regards school names, since we are promoting bilingualism, it is best that school names on signboards should be in two languages at least, particularly Government schools. Of course, we cannot expect the older generation to understand English. But there are pupils who go to a Government school who do not even know the name of the school in another language. So Government schools should at least have two languages written on the school signboard.

As regards simplified Chinese characters, the Senior Minister of State has told us that we have gone through two stages in simplifying characters in Chinese. So if there is any doubt on the part of Members, they can buy the revised edition of the compendium of simplified Chinese characters from the Educational Publications Bureau, because most of the new simplified characters used can be found in this booklet.

Mr Chai Chong Yii: (In Mandarin): Sir, the Member for Jurong asked me when we are going to implement post allowances for principals. I think we cannot fix a date. Since the Government is a large organisation, I cannot predict a date before the issue is decided. But I can say there will be news about it sometime in the middle of the year. Is the Member satisfied?

The Member touched on accent. This is not something which I can solve. It is a complicated matter. What I want to stress is that before these teachers were placed in the schools, they had gone through a special consultation session with the principals and education officers from the Ministry, concerning local problems, our education system and its particular requirements, so that they will not transmit their own idiosyncracies into our schools. They have to fit into our local situation. What we want of them is to fill our present need for teachers of English language, as we are short of such teachers at the moment. There is really nothing much we can do about the accent of any of these teachers.

As regards telephones, of course, we can install telephones in Government schools. But to install telephones in schools in the islands is a very expensive undertaking. Gradually most of the schools on the Outlying islands will over the years be transferred to the main island. In respect of those schools that will stay there for a long time. I will look into the possibility of providing them with telephones or radio-phones.

7.30 p.m.

As regards aided schools, the power is in the hands of the school management committee concerned. In some cases where the installation involves large expenditure, it will be difficult to persuade them to install.

Mr Sia Khoon Seong: Sir, I must say that I am impressed by the Senior Minister of State's reply, not so much for his answers to the questions but his delivery, which was so impressive yet evading some of the answers, and getting away with it. Take, for example, the several questions that I have raised. I will just refer to one of them. I asked how much money did the various secondary schools spend on buying those technical drawing instruments. His answer was. "less than 500 sets." 500 sets gives one the impression that it was not very much, but if you do a little bit of multiplication, each set costing more than $30 --

Mr Chai Chong Yii: $5 for your information.

Mr Sia Khoon Seong: In his favourable reply to the point raised by the Member for Jurong and the Member for Jalan Kayu in regard to the post allowance, together with my two colleagues I welcome this positive response. As a trade unionist, naturally I always welcome any increase of salary for anybody, but I would like to seek some clarification and also to make certain comments. His reply is quite vague. Do I take it to mean that this will give the principals a post allowance additional to their present salaries? Let me explain. In 1972 the Education Service went through a restructuring exercise. Many of the principals then had their salaries plus their post allowances incorporated into their present salaries. Do I take it (I mean, this is too good to be true) that in addition to the post allowances that they had before and which had already been incorporated into their present salaries, a post allowance is being considered? If that is so, it is very good.

The other point is, if that is so, what about the senior assistants? Let me explain, and this is very important for morale purposes. Before 1972 when the principals were drawing post .allowances, the senior assistants were also fighting for post allowances of a smaller quantum. These senior assistants are not just ordinary teachers. They are, in actual fact, manning a school. Because of a shortage of schools in Singapore, we had to put two schools into one school and call them two-session schools. Actually speaking, each school is composed of two schools of one session each. So there has to be a person who is the senior assistant to run the afternoon school. Prior to 1972 the senior assistants could not even get any kind of recognition for an allowance. They were not asking for the same quantum. But subsequently all these allowances were incorporated into the salaries for principals. Now that the Senior Minister of State is considering giving a post allowance for the principals, that is very fine. Would not the Minister of State also consider some kind of post allowance of a lesser quantum for the senior assistants, because they have to run the afternoon schools themselves?

As regards the Sports secretaries, who would want to do the onerous duties of a Sports secretary in a school? I think it is only fair that they should be considered also. The Member for Jurong has mentioned about senior subject-teachers. These were the teachers who had a post allowance before but was subsequently abolished.

I want to make it clear that this is the best news that the Senior Minister of State has given us with regard to the post allowance for principals because they hold certain responsibilities. But for purposes of morale for the whole teaching service, there are other categories that he should not forget. It is just like the Government deciding to give the Permanent Secretaries a wage increase and leaving out the Deputy Secretaries and Principal Assistant Secretaries, and so on. This is not good for morale. Could the Minister for Education go just one small step forward, since he has already made a breakthrough in this very difficult matter, and include a few more other deserving cases? After all, he has mentioned that there must be fairness. On the basis of equity and fairness, we should not leave other categories that merit consideration. I am not saying that they should all be paid the same quantum, but of a varied quantum. Some form of recognition is important.

Mr Chai Chong Yii: (In Mandarin): Sir, I can only reply in this manner. This question of post allowance for principals has not yet been finally decided. It is still in a stage of final consultation, and therefore this is not the proper time for me to announce it. But I sympathise with what the Member for Moulmein says, and I shall direct my attention to the points that he raised. Since he is the President of the Singapore Teachers' Union, he has the duty to raise them. But we must not forget that to traverse a hundred steps we can only do it one step after another. There is always a step that lies ahead. So it is endless. Therefore, the question is, when do we stop? Once you decide to stop, there may be people who are unhappy. I am not saying "Yes" or "No". But whether we stop or take a step further, there will always be another step ahead. So there are bound to be people who are unhappy in the process. Nevertheless we have to make a start sometime somewhere. Of course, by that we wish we could make everybody happy but we cannot. If most people are happy, that will be good enough.

Mr Fong Sip Chee: (In Mandarin): Do not get excited yet, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir. Originally, the spearhead of my attack this year is not directed against the Ministry of Education. When I made a deeper study of the achievements of the Ministry of Education over the last one year. I found that the performance is really not bad. But I am particularly impressed by the performance of the Senior Minister of State in his manner and style in answering questions, which could be said to be wonderful. He has been very adept in avoiding certain major issues but picking on the lighter ones. He has got the air of magnanimity of a Confucian scholar. That really is "admirable". The debate went over to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, then to the Member for Boon Lay regarding the remarks made by him, and now the Ministry of Labour is also involved in the fray. The Member for Boon Lay said that the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs was quoting him out of context. It is very strange, but the crux of the matter boils down to the question of education. If you look at the Sin Chew Jit Poh and Nan yang Siang Pau newspapers you will notice that they report differently, even on the same debate in this House. This is really a question of education. So you cannot say that the Ministry of Education was doing things stealthily and trying to change some system. I think the main point is the standard of Chinese in Singapore. When the standard of English is poor, we have gone out of our way and taken the trouble to recruit teachers from Great Britain with the native accent of English - well and good. My spoken Mandarin is also not on par with good norm. But the question is, when you have a lower standard of Chinese in Singapore, who is complaining? Where are we to get the teachers?

An hon. Member: Nanyang University.

Mr Fong Sip Chee: (In Mandarin): We have many graduates from Nanyang University in this House. I do not wish to offend them. The question is, if we go to the Government departments, like the important Ministry of National Development which is a gorgeous building, we will see this Chinese inscription over the lift door:() (Dian ti zai bao yang) (The lift is recuperating.) This is not Chinese. This notice translated into Chinese does not sound Chinese. After some investigation I found that the characters are Japanese, yet they are used as Chinese and hung up there. Every year in the National Day celebrations we see all kinds of PA, and other banners and buntings with slogans, written in very poor Chinese, hung all over Singapore. Who is there to complain? How to get teachers to rectify it? It would appear that the Minister for Education has to look into the question of poor standard of Chinese in Singapore. The Prime Minister has said ours is bilingual education. We have to find a balance in bilingual education, we cannot and must not implement bilingual education with emphasis on one language only.

On the question of allowances, from the Ministry of Labour's point of view, I am a little apprehensive because we are trying to rationalise wages and not to raise salaries indiscriminately. That is the duty of the Ministry of Labour. If, as the Senior Minister of State has said, this post allowance is still in a stage of consultation and therefore not convenient to deal with it in this House, so to both of them I can only quote the words of the Member for Anson in this House on the 14th March about how to spend money. May I quote from col. 841 of the verbatim report dated 14th March so that both the Senior Minister of State for Education and the Member for Moulmein can adopt as a guiding principle in their bargaining. If that is observed, the Ministry of Labour shall be more at ease.

The Member for Anson was referring to an Indian poem. I do not know Tamil but I will try to read it in Tamil. The Member for Anson read this in Tamil and I quote: 'Iyarralum eattalum kathalum Katha vakuthalum vallathu arasu' For the benefit of the other language interpreters, as some of them are scratching their heads. I now read out the translation by the Member for Anson himself given there, so that the other Members in this House can also understand, and I hope my two colleagues, the Senior Minister of State for Education and the Member for Moulmein will follow me and heed this advice:

(In English): "To explore better ways for revenue, To save and safeguard the same, And to spend it wisely, Is the duty of the Government."

I hope that they will bargain according to this principle, so that the Ministry of Labour will have no cause to intervene in the negotiation. It will be very unpleasant otherwise. Thank you.

7.45 p.m.

Mr Chai Chong Yii: (In Mandarin): Sir, money is almighty but money is also all-evil.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Sir, this is a wonderful and marvellous debate, and since the Minister of State has answered the points raised, I beg leave to withdraw my amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

The following amendment stood in the names of Haji Sha'ari Bin Tadin, Messrs S. Dhanabalan, Teo Chong Tee, Ho See Beng and Encik Sidek Bin Saniff -

(2) That the sum to be allocated for Head W be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead BAA 1101.

Haji Sha'ari Bin Tadin: I am not moving, Sir.

The Chairman: Mr Dhanabalan.

Mr S. Dhanabalan (Kallang): Sir, I beg to move,

That the sum to be allocated for Head W be reduced by $10 in respect of subhead BAA 1101.

Sir, after that marvellous debate, it is with some fear and trepidation that I touch upon this subject. I would like to bring up the Ministry of Education's plans and the manner in which it administers the education of handicapped children. I shall quote the example of children who are born deaf or who become deaf at an early age, but I would like to make it clear that this is intended only as an illustration and I do not intend that any action that the Ministry could take should be confined only to education of deaf children.

The attitude of the Ministry seems to be that the primary responsibility for the education of deaf children should be left in the hands of the Singapore Association for the Deaf which is a voluntary organisation supported by donations from the public and that the Ministry should only complement the service of such a voluntary organisation. I agree that there is a place, and an important place, for voluntary organisations in this field but the efforts of such organisations should be directed to those areas where the Government is not providing a service to the population at large. For example, we have not reached a stage in Singapore where preschool education is provided by the Government. It is well known that the first few years of a child's life are the most crucial years in the learning process of a child and that what is done in these initial years can determine the child's whole future in terms of capacity to learn in later life. This is even more important for deaf children who need to be exposed to specialised teaching at an early age so that they can learn some form of communication. Deaf children cannot learn to speak, as not being able to hear. they cannot imitate sounds.

The use of the word "dumb" with its implication of stupidity to describe a mute is a tragedy. Deaf children have often just as much innate intelligence as other children. Deaf children need to be enrolled into preschool classes at the age of two or three years so that they have a proper foundation to cope reasonably with primary education. Parents of deaf children need to be educated also so that they can be effective partners with the specialists in educating and bringing up their children. There is also a need for special equipment to help deaf children to learn both academic as well as vocational subjects. The public at large, including employers, also need to be educated on how to deal with and employ such deaf people. All these are areas which are the proper responsibility of voluntary organisations like the Singapore Association for the Deaf, but the provision of basic primary education, and for those who make the grade, secondary education should be the responsibility of the Ministry of Education.

We have a School for the Deaf built with gifts from the public. It has 20 classrooms capable of handling 40 classes, putting the morning and afternoon sessions together. At present, only 33 classes are conducted and classrooms are empty although there is a waiting list of 77 children for admission to primary school. These children on the waiting list are more than seven years old and some are even ten years old. They cannot be admitted because there are not enough teachers. These 33 classes conducted at present are handled by 20 teachers, including the principal, provided by the Ministry of Education, six teachers by the Social Welfare Department and nine teachers employed by the Association for the Deaf. The Association does not dare to recruit more teachers to cater for those on the waiting list because it is not confident that it will be able to raise sufficient funds to keep these classes going on a continuous basis. In spite of the fact that the Ministry of Education and the Social Welfare Department provide three-quarters of the staff for the school, the major part of the Association's annual budget goes towards the employment of teachers in the school. The Association also runs a vocational institute and I have not even touched on the problems connected with this.

We therefore find that, instead of the Association concentrating on those areas which require attention, such as the provision of very early pre-school education, the education of parents, etc, which I have already mentioned, the Association has to expend its resources on the provision of basic primary education. It has, for example, 70 children on the waiting list for pre-school, in addition to the 77 that I have already mentioned, for whom it is not able to provide a place. What I would like to know is when is the Ministry going to take over and provide basic primary education to such children. The parents of such children are also taxpayers and I see no reason why their children's primary education should not be funded out of general taxes as the education of other children are funded. It seems a crying shame for children who are already of schooling age to wait past the normal age for commencement of primary education because of the shortage of teachers. If the Ministry claims that funds are not available for such teachers. I think this would be stretching credibility too far as I do not think it can be said with any justification that the Government cannot afford to take on the complete responsibility for the primary education of such children. The cost will not cripple the Government. The children who are handicapped ask no more of the Government than normal children and they deserve, Sir, no less.

Mr Teo Chong Tee (Changi): Sir,I have two points to make. The first concerns the drop in the standard of English in our schools and the recruitment of expatriate teachers. The second point concerns the great number of relief teachers which the Ministry of Education has recruited in our schools. Although the Hon. Minister had already briefly explained my first point, I would like here to elaborate further.

Sir, it is unfortunate but true that the standard of English in our schools has dropped steeply in recent years. According to the Ministry of Education, this is due largely to the poor standard of English of the teachers themselves. An increasing number of expatriate teachers has been recruited from Britain to remedy this situation. In the past year alone. 13 expatriate teachers were employed. Whether or not these expatriate teachers will improve the standard of English in our schools has yet to be seen. However. I would like to draw the attention of the House to a number of dangers which we may encounter if we employ more and more of these teachers.

Firstly, an expatriate teacher may have an ulterior motive in coming here. A typical example is Brian Maurice, former History teacher at the United World College, who was involved in the Euro-communist plot against the popularly elected PAP Government. I wonder how much distorted information about the Government and the PAP leadership had already been fed to his counterparts in Europe.

Secondly, the social values and life-styles of these European teachers may have an adverse effect on our youth. Our youths in primary and secondary schools are still too young to know what is good and what is not so good for them. If they are exposed to the influence of these expatriate teachers, they may adopt the social values and life-styles of the West. In other words, we are indirectly importing Western social values and lifestyles, and although these teachers are engaged on a short-term we may not realise the harm that it can do to us.

Thirdly, the employment of expatriate teachers may cause discontent among our citizens as it somehow denies our citizens opportunities of employment. Apart from the dangers which I have highlighted, we should also consider the cost of employing these expatriate teachers. Not only do we pay them handsome salaries to attract them to our clean and green Singapore, we are also paying them a host of allowances, including return air trips, possibly in our well-known airline. With this recruitment, the expenditure on expatriate teachers is expected to increase by almost 300% this year. Thus, it is far more expensive to employ an expatriate teacher than a local teacher. I wonder whether the Ministry of Education has weighed carefully the cost and benefit of employing expatriate teachers. A continued employment of such teachers should be carefully considered, and only when the benefits outweigh the cost. We must spend our money wisely.

Before we can think of the benefits of employing expatriate teachers, we must first find out the principal cause of the declining standard of English in our schools. Has the Ministry of Education made a detailed study of the problem to determine what is the real cause of this decline? We must bear in mind that besides the lack of qualified English teachers in our schools, there may be some shortcomings in our present educational system which may be responsible for the poor standard of English. Perhaps, the rapid changes in the educational policy in recent years have caused confusion among teachers and students. Furthermore, our youths in schools may not be able to adapt themselves to such rapid changes. Hence, the decline in the standard of education in general and English in particular.

Our method of examination may also be a cause for the declining standard of English. In schools, both teachers and students are examination-oriented. The student's main concern is to pass the examinations. Little thought is given to improving both oral and written English. Presently, more emphasis is placed on technical education to satisfy the requirements of our industries. Possibly, this is another cause for our declining standard of English. More resources are channelled into the development of technical education, which over-rides the object of improving the standard of English.

Sir, having given the number of possible causes for the present state of affairs, I hope the Ministry of Education would look into them more deeply before making any justification for the recruitment of more and more expatriate teachers.

I wonder whether the employment of expatriate teachers is the only solution to this critical problem. I am all for the employment of expatriate teachers to help us improve the standard of English in Singapore if this is the only solution to our problem and if the commitment of these expatriate teachers in our Republic are not prejudicial to the welfare of our people and the security of Singapore. Alternatively, has the Government thought of sending our teachers to Britain for training? If our teachers can be trained to do the work as efficiently as the expatriate teachers, then I see no reason why we should employ them from overseas, particularly from Britain which the Member for Anson has mentioned. This will be cost-saving.

Sir, another point I would like to raise is the shortage of teachers, which warrants the employment of many relief teachers. If relief teachers are required to cover teachers who go on maternity leave, national service, and on annual study leave, is it not possible for the Ministry of Education to form a pool of relief teachers? The number of relief teachers is quite substantial, so they should be given proper training at the Institute of Education. Since the future of our children lies in their hands, it is absolutely essential that these relief teachers are offered proper training so that they can perform their duties more effectively. I understand that there are some teachers who have completed their training in the Institute of Education but are still employed as relief teachers. Some of them have to work for a period of two to three years as relief teachers before they are offered permanent posts. Why is this so? In spite of the acute shortage of teaching staff in schools, why are these qualified teachers not considered for permanent employment immediately after graduating from the Institute of Education?

The Chairman: Order. Moment of Interruption.

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

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, I beg to report that the Committee of Supply has made further progress on the Main and Development Estimates for the financial year 1st April, 1977 to 31st March, 1978 and ask leave to sit again on Monday, 21st March, 1977.

Mr Deputy Speaker: So be it.